At Home | Spring 2015

6 “You’re not from around here, are you?”

8 Tales from a vanished lake

10 Can you identify these northwest-area photos?

12 Local parks in the spotlight

14 Learning by doing

18 Making treasure out of trash

22 Beekeeping: not just a hobby

27 Know your yard pests: moles vs. voles

Spring 2015

published by pscommunications

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At home in northwest Guilford CountyAs we planned the editorial content for this spring’s at Home publica-tion, we wanted to touch on as many aspects of “life in northwest Guilford

County” as possible, from local history to practical home-related topics to offering a sense of our area’s “personality.”

Offering a glimpse into times past, within these pages you’ll fi nd an article on Carolina Lake, a 5-acre lake that was once a popular social gathering spot and fi shing hole for locals.

Have problems with moles – or voles – or not sure which? I personally requested this article be written after experiencing these pests at both our home in Sum-merfi eld and our offi ce property in Oak Ridge. (I’m getting the feeling we might have to just live with them, but let me know if you have a solution for how to

send them on their merry way).

Read about some hidden treasures right here in northwest Guilford County – our community parks – beginning on page 12.

Test your observation skills by looking at zoomed-in photos on page 10 and seeing if you can identify where they came from.

Meet a former teacher who is con-stantly fi nding new ways to fl ex her creative muscles, learn about the popular hobby of beekeeping, hear what some “transplants” think about living in North Carolina, and read about one of our own writer’s experience with building a “tiny house” that he’s admittedly “more proud of than he has a right to be.”

Enjoy the beautiful spring season, and happy reading!

Patti Stokes, president/ownerPS Communications

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by Annette Joyce

Just for the fun of it, we talkedto some of our friends and neighborswho didn’t grow up here but decided

to make the northwest area their home. We asked them lots of questions. What diff erences do they notice in comparison

to their former hometowns? What do they fi nd most appealing about the

area? Have they developed any cravings for traditional Southern foods? Are there

local sayings that they fi nd confusing or amusing? We hope you enjoy their

responses as much as we did.

are you?You’re not from around‘ ’here,

A native of the Midwest, Lisa Campbell moved to the Summerfi eld area in 2011 when her husband’s employer, Procter & Gamble, relocated him. Having been through four relocations, Lisa has found a lot to love about the area.

“All four seasons in the Triad are considerably more pleasant,” says Lisa, who compares the winters here to a midwestern spring. “There is defi -nitely a much broader choice of fresh produce at the local farmers markets, as the growing season here is 10 months versus the midwest grow-ing seasons which were four months at best.”

Along with enjoying the fresh produce, Lisa has also acquired a taste for some of the state’s favorites – “North Carolina barbecue with cole slaw, collards and Southern sweet tea.”

Of course, there are those Southern sayings that even Southerners poke fun at. “Bless your heart,” “That’s pitiful” and “I’m gonna get me some” are some of her favorites.

As to what unique treasures the area has to offer, Lisa has unearthed some of those as well. She mentions Gold Stan-dard Fitness, the Stokesdale Bi-Rite meat department and Brent Schroyer, the in-surance agent at the Bank of Oak Ridge.

Having family in the area and more reasonable

home prices motivated Laura Mulcahy and her husband to move from Long Island, New York, to Oak Ridge 10 years ago. The lifestyle has kept them here.

“The pace is much less ragged here. People

are far more patient and not in so much of a hurry,” says Laura. “It took a little while for me to appreci-ate the slower pace and expecting to ‘get things done yesterday,’ but once I realized how much calmer

a way of life it was, it became easy to settle into and accept.”

An avid biker, one of the things Laura likes best about the area is the recreational options. “We have over 40 miles of great wooded trails, plus green-ways, community parks, etc., with even

File photo

The Piedmont Triad Farmer’s Market in Colfax

is open year-round.

Spring 2015 7

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continued on page 30

more planned to be built,” she says. “With the combined great year-round weather and the beautiful biking/hiking trails, we couldn’t ask for a better place to live. This area makes it really easy to take advantage of the outdoors and enjoy nature without having to get in a car to drive somewhere else.”

Laura has found quite a few area attractions that locals might take for granted – like Summerfield Farms. “They have some of the best organic and grass-fed beef and other meat and poultry around and they are so close,” she says. “I love having that as an option.”

She also mentions the Greensboro Sci-ence Center and the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. And, of course the Old Mill of Guilford, where she loves “their fresh scone mix and (its) quaint charm and beauty.”

Nancy Crane moved to Summerfield when her husband took a job with The Fresh Market 14 years ago. Although she’s a native of Iowa, Nancy and her family had lived in Wantage, New Jersey, prior to her last move – a town so little that “even people in Jersey don’t know where it is,” says Nancy.

For the Cranes, the northwest Guilford area turned out to be a perfect choice. “We have mountains, and the beach is easy to get to,” says Nancy. “The people are great. When we first moved here the neighbors brought us treats and wel-comed us to the neighborhood.”

Nancy says she loves “all the accents you come across when talking with people from all over North Carolina.” Like most people who haven’t grown up in the South, she has her own Southern sayings that she finds particularly amus-ing. Along with that all-time favorite, “Bless your heart,” there’s also “make” a picture and “you doin’ alright?”

Although she left behind some “awe-

some” food in New Jersey, Nancy has replaced it with some Southern favorites including low country boil, Brunswick stew and pimento cheese, something she never thought she’d like.

Before Steve Spalding and his wife settled in Oak Ridge 11 years ago, Steve had changed addresses 20 times in 18 years. Most of his life was spent in Indi-ana, but there was a short stint in Ohio

and a couple of years on a boat on the Atlantic Intracoastal

Waterway in Georgia. “The North was too

cold and the South too hot,” says Steve. “North Carolina has the most equal parts of all four seasons. I’m an outdoors

person. I love the close proximity to the moun-

tains and the ocean... all in one state!”

After being sent by his employer to Winston-Salem to evaluate why a particular trucking company had a higher accident ratio than their other northern and

southern companies, Steve quickly real-ized that there was something different about North Carolina drivers. “People in North Carolina drove like they took their NASCAR to the highway,” says Steve. “Yet, if you needed (to get) out into traf-fic they were the most courteous.”

Then, there’s that Carolina blue color. “Living in Indiana, I watched a lot of bas-ketball. I never understood the name be-hind the Carolina blue,” says Steve. “Once I moved here I was, and still am, amazed at the big beautiful light blue skies almost every day of the year. I now understand.”

There are a bunch of Southern say-ings that Steve has heard but his favorite by far is the habit of people using “Mr.” or “Miss” followed by a person’s first name, rather than their last name.

Last July, Jennifer Harkey and her family moved from Seymour, Connecticut, to their

File photo

The Old Mill of Guilford has operated

since 1764.

8 Spring 2015

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by KRISTIN KUBLY

In the early part of the twentieth century, the town of Oak Ridge was once host to swimming and boating parties, lakeside picnics and some great fi shing at a spot known as Lake Carolina.

During its heyday, Lake Carolina, lo-cated about 500 yards south of Oak Ridge Military Academy, was a popular spot for students as well as locals looking for a place to cool off on a hot summer day.

Unfortunately, the lake is no more.So how can a lake just disappear? The

answer to that question remains a mystery.

Construction of the 5-acre lake began in 1921, on private property owned by Earle P. Holt, an instructor at what was then known as the Oak Ridge Institute.

An article from the Greensboro Patriot dated June 13, 1921, describes the site of the lake as it was being created: “The lake will be fi lled by a stream fl owing through wooded land, with water from a dozen springs. Its depth will be about sixteen feet. It is considered one of the fi nest recreational enterprises in the state and is expected to prove mighty popular with the Oak Ridge boys.”

The following summer, students used

Lake Carolina:Gone but not forgotten

Lake which mysteriously disappearedwas site of good times and tragedy

Photo courtesy of Oak Ridge Military AcademyThe 5-acre Lake Carolina was once a popular Oak Ridge recreation area.

the lake at “Camp Carolina,” the summer session at Oak Ridge Institute. By then, the lake had a bath house, a raft with div-ing boards and row boats.

Word of the new lake brought in out-side groups as well.

In August 1922, 600 children from a Sunday school in High Point picnicked at Lake Carolina. The following year, 85 Boy Scouts from High Point and Lexington camped in the wooded hillside surround-ing the lake.

Spring 2015 9

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Lake Carolina provided a picturesque spotfor swimming, boating, fi shing and picnics.

Oak Ridge Institute President T.E. Whitaker proclaimed in the summer of 1923 that Lake Carolina was growing in popularity with locals, “who visit the re-sort in large numbers daily for swimming, boating and other sports.”

At the closing of the season in 1923, The Greensboro Daily Record announced that “thousands have enjoyed the bath-ing and swimming, and scores of picnics have been held under the oaks of the surrounding hillsides.”

Local resident Marie Lowrey Stewart remembers going to the lake in the late 1920s and early 1930s with her parents and brother Sam, a student at the institute.

“When we went to the lake, there were crowds and everyone seemed to be having fun,” she said.

Unfortunately, Lake Carolina was the site of some mishaps and tragedies as well.

In July 1930, the Greensboro Daily Record reported that Judge D.H. Collins parked his Buick on the hillside above the lake, only to have it crash down the hill and smash into some trees.

“Judge Collins was of the opinion that someone had monkeyed with the brakes, allowing the car to get away,” the paper reported.

In 1933, the lake was dragged while searching for W.W. Bennett, a 52-year-old farmer from Pleasant Ridge who had disappeared from his home. He had last been seen walking toward the lake, prompting the fear of suicide.

Fortunately,

Bennett had simply left town due to worry over an impending lawsuit and was found safe in Danville, Virginia.

A local legend has it that some stu-dents of the institute drowned at the lake, which caused the owner to break the dam and let the lake drain away. How-ever, no written evidence of any students drowning or a deliberate breaking of the dam could be found.

Former Town Councilman and lifelong Oak Ridge resident Roger Howerton said he remembers some drownings and be-lieves the dam was dynamited shortly after.

He also said trespassers were a problem. “There were some complaints about

unauthorized people going in and using it, and there were no lifeguards,” he said.

Howerton’s memory is accurate – two tragic drownings did occur at the lake in the 1940s, although they were not students.

The fi rst drowning happened on July 5, 1942. James Paul George, 16, was a local African-American boy and son of a tenant farmer. Although he could not swim, he went to the lake with some friends.

The water level of the lake was shallow for about 50 feet from the shore, and then suddenly became deep. George was trying to get to a log some distance from shore when he stepped into the deep water.

One of his friends, Gilmer Nugent, tried to save him, but was unable to

rescue him as they struggled in the water. George’s body was pulled from

Photos courtesyof Oak Ridge Military Academy


Lake Carolina provided a picturesque spotfor swimming, boating, fi shing and picnics.

disappeared from his home. He had last been seen walking toward the lake, prompting the fear of suicide.

Fortunately,

rescue him as they struggled in the water. George’s body was pulled from

Photos courtesy

10 Spring 2015

Dawn StoneOwner/Broker

Personal & Professional(336) 643-4248 • (336) 312-4226 cell

[email protected] • www.ANewDawnRealty.com

Smith Mountain Lake, VA

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Where am I?Although most people believe they are familiar with their surroundings, many fail to actually see the details in the world around them.

How observant are you? See how many of these northwest area details you can identify. (Hint: They are located on heavily traveled roads and are on or near public, commercial or historical buildings.)

Answers on page 28.

1 2

3 4

5 6

7 8

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OAK RIDGETOWN PARK

Nearly 80 acres at the corner of Lin-ville Road and Lisa Drive offer a bevy of activities, whether you’re an athlete, stroller, parent or dog-lover.

Oak Ridge Town Park opened in 2008; it was partially funded by a $500,000 Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant from the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation.

The park received the National Softball Association Outstanding Park Award in 2014, which was the second time it was recognized for its well-maintained facilities.

Open grassy areas in the park are ad-equate to hold large community activities and events like Movies in the Park and

by GERRI HUNT

As springtime settles in and summer waits around the corner, what better place to spend time under the Carolina blue sky – or watch the setting sun – than at one of the local parks? From pristine walks through nature and serene benches on which to relax and soak in fresh air, to children interacting on playgrounds and cheering crowds from the borders of athletic fi elds, northwest Guilford County has much to off er. Come, let’s takea stroll …

A day in the park

Music in the Park concerts on the third Saturdays of June through September.

Each spring, Canine Capers, a celebration of our furry, four-legged friends, raises funds for its venue, the 1.5-acre Bark Park which opened in 2014. In late May/early June, the town and the Merchants Association of Oak Ridge partner to sponsor RidgeFest, a three-day event featuring carnival rides, food, classic cars, dance contests, live music and a corn-hole tournament.

With so many amenities and ongoing activities already offered at Oak Ridge Town Park, there are still more to come.

After hitting a few bumps along the way – namely not getting a $400,000 matching PARTF grant applied for last

Photo by Gerri Hunt

Seven-year-old JoelGermeroth makes his

way across the monkey bars in the playground at

Oak Ridge Town Park.

As springtime settles in and summer waits around

place to spend time under the Carolina blue sky – or watch the setting sun – than at one of the local parks? From pristine walks through nature and serene benches on which to relax and soak in fresh air, to children interacting on playgrounds and cheering crowds from the borders of

Guilford County has much

A dayA day in inA day inA dayA day inA day in in in in the park

Photo by Gerri Hunt

Seven-year-old JoelGermeroth makes his

way across the monkey bars in the playground at

Oak Ridge Town Park.

Spring 2015 13

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year, and construction bids coming in much higher than budgeted – the fi rst part of the park’s Phase II is expected to get underway soon.

Parks and Recreation Commis-sion Chairman Bill Edwards says the next phase of the park will feature a performance stage/amphitheater, additional restrooms and paved con-necting paths; expected completion date is this summer.

The second part of Phase II, which has not yet been budgeted, calls for a small playground suitable for younger children and additional parking.

Edwards says the park’s master plan also includes a swinging bridge, tennis and volleyball courts, a small spray park, a third covered shelter and more landscaping. Additional picnic tables, benches and information signage will be placed in the park as well.

In the meantime, Oak Ridge Town Park rents out its shelters, athletic fi elds and tent canopies.

WHAT’S THERE• Two lighted multi-purpose

football/soccer fi elds

• Two lighted baseball/softball fi elds and scoreboards

• Paved and unpaved walking trails

• Two picnic shelters

• Large playground

• Pond

• Concession stand

• Restrooms

• Park maintenance/storage facility

• Picnic tables and park benches

• Doggie stations and birdhouses

• Ball park

MORE INFO• Located at 6234 Lisa Drive

• (336) 644-7009 (Oak Ridge Town Hall)

• [email protected]

• www.oakridgenc.com

STOKESDALE TOWN PARK

What used to be a serene meadow owned by the Martin family of Stokesdale has been transformed into the gently rolling Stokesdale Town Park at Martin’s Meadow.

Located just behind Town Hall on Angel Pardue Road, the 25-acre park attracts sports teams, walkers and run-ners, and youngsters who can enjoy a playground with climbing equipment. The town plans to install a swing set by this spring.

Stokesdale Town Park also offers a unique attraction for this area, a nine-hole disc golf course. It opened in 2011, and is enjoyed by novices and experi-enced players alike.

While future plans are in the works,

owned by the Martin family of Stokesdale

Stokesdale Town Park also offers a

File photo

Two sand volleyball courts providefun, exercise and competition at

Stokesdale Town Park.

14 Spring 2015

Oak Ridge Historic DistrictPromoting historicpreservation in Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge Historic Preservation CommissionPO Box 374, Oak Ridge, NC 27310

Tel. (336) 644-7009 | Fax. (336) 644 7012 | www.oakridgenc.com

Considering a spring remodel or landscaping?Before starting, find out if your property is located in the Historic District.The Oak Ridge Historic District is a 400-acre area spanning nearly 2 miles of Highway 150 (between Williard Road & Bastille Lane) and extending northwest along Linville Road. It includes historic structures as well as homes and businesses. Visit www.oakridgenc.com for a full-size map of the district.

If the answer is yes, you need to consult the Historic District Design Guidelines!Changes to the structure’s exterior, site, or landscaping require approval before work begins. These types of changes (as well as new construction) within the Historic District must follow the Design Guidelines. For more information, visit www.oakridgenc.com or call Bruce Oakley, Town Manager at (336) 644-7009.

My littleoutbuilding

(and what I learned in theprocess of building it)

by STEVE HUFFMAN

So, I built myself a little building. It’s down by the end of the pond. And it turned out cute, even if I say so myself.

I’m pretty lucky. My wife, Meg, and I live off the beaten path. We’re down in the woods about a quarter-mile from the road, with a few acres, a pond and a house. We’ve even got a small cabin on the property.

None of it is fancy, but we like it. When the sun sets, it’s not unusual for barred owls to serenade us to sleep.

We’ve lived here about fi ve years. When I describe my property, I tell people I sometimes feel as if I’ve died and gone to the good place.

None of this has anything to do with my outbuilding, but I wanted to set the scene.

I decided the other year to build myself a building. I didn’t need it so much as I wanted to construct something that would afford me a sense of accomplishment.

I’m 57 and not getting younger, my days of learning to build slipping away.

My paternal grandfather was a carpen-ter, but until about 15 years ago, I’d built next to nothing. Since then I’ve built privacy fences, decks and a screened porch or two. I’ve also installed replacement windows and learned to do a little plumbing.

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

The house where Meg and I live sat empty for the better part of a decade

before we bought the place; it was in need of some serious repairs. I couldn’t afford to pay someone to do all the work, so I grabbed a hammer and paint brush and went at it.

I’m a fi rm believer in learning by doing.Joseph Cataldo, my former next-door

neighbor, once described my limited con-struction skills as “Fred Flintstone carpen-try.” I’m still far from a fi nished carpenter, but I’ve gotten better, regardless of what Joseph says.

When I decided to build an outbuild-ing, I didn’t want one with the faux Dutch barn look. Frankly, I think we’ve got plen-ty of those around (and if there’s a faux Dutch barn outbuilding in your backyard, I apologize for what I just said).

I wanted something unique.I love tiny houses – those little resi-

dences that typically measure 200 square feet or less but look much larger. (Google “tiny houses” and have a look if you don’t know what I’m talking about.)

Anyway, I wanted my outbuilding to resemble a tiny house. I also had a goal of fi nishing this grand project for under $1,000. I think I came close to doubling that amount, but I look at the investment as my way of helping get the economy back on track.

Plus, the fi nished product is mine. And I built it.

The core of my building measures12-by-12. I used cinder blocks for the foun-dation and tried my best to level every-

Spring 2015 15

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• Lifelong Colfax resident

• Northwest Guilford Class of 1985

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Curtis Atkins, owner

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Treating customers like neighbors

Photos by Steve Huffman | Steve Huffman continued honing his carpentry skills as he constructed this outbuilding (aka “tiny house”).

thing. I used 2-x-8 boards for the perimeter and 2-x-6 boards for the fl oor joists.

I didn’t have construction plans, instead sort of winging it as I went. That was part of the fun.

I built walls (along the way I learned what “16 on center” means) and installed windows. Wherever possible, I used items I found on clearance at Lowe’s Home Improvement.

I couldn’t convince anyone to offer me

a hand, so I wound up building everything myself, which was a bit of a trick when it came to installing the ceiling rafters. The structure is fi nished in HardiePlank and topped with a tin roof.

(The day I installed the tin, a thunder-storm came along not long after. I wrote on Facebook that standing underneath and listening to the rain pinging off the new roof gave me a feeling the building was coming to life, that I’d created something.)

On the front I built a 5-x-9 porch (another framing project) that I screened. The porch overlooks the pond.

I wouldn’t admit this to just anyone, but I’m prouder of the fi nished product than I have any right to be.

At night, Meg and I sometimes walk to the pond, have a seat on the screened porch and listen to the frogs and owls. We’ve seen deer and even coyotes. It’s fairly idyllic.

(We’ve also been known to knock back a bottle of wine while sitting there, but that’s not what makes it idyllic.)

I’ve fi nally got a place to hang my old license plates and those Ford Mustang and Dodge Dart hubcaps that were go-ing to waste being boxed away.

Inside the building I put an old couch on which I nap on rainy afternoons.

If you’d like to stop by and have a glass of wine with me and Meg one eve-ning, you’re more than welcome.

I’ll try not to bore you with construc-tion details.

When he’s not tackling home projects or volunteer-ing, Steve Huff man, a retired newspaper journalist, occasion-ally writes for the Northwest Observer.

Bill Houser(336) [email protected]

www.HouserTriadRealty.com

I may be relatively new to real estate, but I am not new to helping people achieve their goals. Detailed, intelligent, personable and having over 30 years of experience as a business manager, I am uniquely qualified to help you overcome the hurdles associ-ated with selling or buying your next home. In addition to the value-added services I provide, I offer discounts on the listing commission for veterans and other qualified sellers, and I will not represent both the seller and buyer in the same transaction.

Houser Triad Realty

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 25 years. I live, work and volunteer in the northwest 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 2014, my priority is simple–YOU!

DeDe Cunningham, Realtor/BrokerNC Licensed Contractor • BA in Architecture (336) 509-1923 • [email protected]

www.allentate.com/DedeCunningham

Keeping everyone in the loop – that’s the difference between a successful real estate transaction and a stressful one. That’s why I work extra hard to keep the communication lines open. Having lived in the northwest area my entire life, I know the area and enjoy helping my clients find exactly what they’re looking for. As a Realtor, my goal is to provide the best possible service from start to finish. You can count on me to be with you every step of the way.

Phillip Stone Broker/Realtor(336) 908-6528 cell [email protected]

www.ANewDawnRealty.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 and problem solver ... Real Commitment & Real Results.

Call Nancy Hess, for buying and sellingState Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser REALTOR®/Broker • (336) 215-1820 [email protected]

THE BOBBIE MAYNARD TEAM – Experienced team of Realtor/Brokers with 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

I am a “hometown” girl, born and raised in Greensboro. I now reside in Summerfield. Specializing in working with buyers and sellers, I truly enjoy my career in residential real estate! My goal is to provide you with exceptional service and work with you hand-in-hand to reach your goals. I know the Triad well and have extensive knowledge in several counties. Please allow me to welcome you home!

Melissa Shelar(336) [email protected]

www.allentate.com/melissashelar

Let us introduce you to these

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 • [email protected]

www.JustCallGil.com

Honesty ... Integrity ... Hard work ... these are just a few words to describe the cornerstones of business for Ridgewood Realty. Founded in 2009, several seasoned Realtors came together believing that a real estate transaction should be a positive & personal experience. Our goal is to do everything possible to meet the needs of our clients. Whether buying and/or selling a home, our experienced agents will walk with you every step of the way. Give us a call today!

Gail Kerber, CDPE, ABGail Kerber, CDPE, ABGail Kerber R, SPS, SLSRealtor®/Broker/Owner®/Broker/Owner®

(336) 327-1165 cell

www.ridgewoodrealtync.com

You could say I acquired my passion for real estate early. My mother, Johnnye Greer Hunter, was a successful Realtor in Greensboro. A recipient of numerous awards and a top producing agent, I make sure my clients have a rewarding and most profitable experience. I have deep roots in the northwest area – my family, Jacob & Claudia Letterman, and I are active and committed to our community and schools. Please call me for your real estate needs.

Johnnye Letterman, Realtor® (336) 601-6012 cell [email protected]

www.johnnyeletterman.com

A native of the Triad and a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, I now live in Oak Ridge with my husband, Scott, and our three children. Licensed since 1996, I enjoy working with buyers and sellers throughout the Triad. Relentless, driven, and competent – with me you are not just anumber. Whether you are buying, selling or relocating, put my experience to work for you.

Chandra Tippett REALTOR®/Broker/Broker(336) 749-7977 [email protected]

www.triadhomesales.com

As your experienced real estate broker, it is my duty to predict possible problems and solve them before they create stress. I’ve been in the business many years, but I need and appreciate the questions or suggestions my clients may have, as I feel communication is imperative to a successful business relationship. My career is such a rewarding, positive experience, and I feel lucky to be able to work with clients who rely on me. Whether buying or selling, it would be my pleasure to assist you.

Kathy McClelland(336) 314-5637 cell • (336) 517-3050 [email protected]

www.homesbuyhousekat.com

local Realtors

(336) 644-7035, ext. 10 • [email protected]

Contact us to learn how to be included in the fall 2015 edition

Realtors,introduce yourselvesto potential clients in this spotlight directory

18 Spring 2015

Cardinal Millwork and Supply is a locally owned and operated custom millwork supply shop serving the Triad and surrounding areas. We specialize in a vast variety of mouldings, doors, stair parts

and services, and are capable of matching any old profiles as well as cutting new profiles.

7620 W Market St, Greensboro • (336) 665-9811

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED • Pre-hang door shop – hollow core, solid core, 6-8, 7-0, and 8-0’s • Standard and custom mouldings • Stair parts – wood and iron • New & replacement windows (Comfort View, Hurd)

• Custom entry doors • All your interior trim If we don’t have it in stock, we will order it for you. If it is not available, we can make it for you.

• Custom-made cabinets and built-in units • Custom shutters / Custom beam work • Door hardware – knobs, hinges, house numbers, etc. • Custom mantels • Turn-key installation available

BRING YOUR OWN PICTURE AND WE CAN BUILD IT!

From trash toFrom trash toFrom trash toFormer school

teacher creates business around

repurposing weathered

wood

by ANNETTE JOYCE

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Taking that old adage to heart, Janelle Rob-

inson creates freshly unique home furnishings and accessories from items most people simply discard. In the process, she’s also established a thriving business, Simply Janelle Designs.

The 37-year-old Summerfi eld resident refers to her home, which she shares with her husband, Scott, and their three children, Reese, Nick and Ace, as her showroom and actually sells the pieces that decorate her rooms and walls. A trip through her home reveals her innate talent for repurposing what others consider unusable.

A conversation starter and centerpiece in her living room is the dog kennel she designed and built for the family’s goldendoodle, Ollie. Us-ing an old corner mantel, she painted it, added screened doors to the front and personalized

it with Ollie’s name. The bottom is open to the room’s hardwood fl oor and the top serves as a display area. While it looks like a piece of furni-ture, it actually keeps the friendly canine con-tained close by when visitors pop in.

On further inspection, you’ll see the vin-tage suitcase shelves that Robinson created by cutting a hard shell suitcase in half. And there’s the beat-up wire basket she transformed into a charming hanging light fi xture.

Many of the items that decorate her home are made from weathered wood from old barns. A popular piece is the “established” sign that features a couple’s name and the year they were married. Robinson says a lot of people order these for wedding and anniversary gifts.

In the kitchen you’ll see more of Robinson’s masterpieces. She gave the room a fresh look by using chalk paint on the cabinets and counter-tops and replacing the island countertop with an

Spring 2015 19

New construction design selections specialistResidential interior design consultation & furnishings

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continued on page 20old barn door. Two dairy farm metal milk cans serve as stools for the island.

The massive kitchen table features another barn door resting on an elegant chalk-painted table base. It’s that unique juxtaposition of style that gives Robin-son’s work its appeal.

“Most of my tables have fancy bases with a barn wood top,” says Robinson. “The barn wood island tops also go well with granite.”

Robinson uses barn doors again in Nick and Ace’s room. Two large weath-ered doors decorate the wall behind

class, each woman completes a specifi c project selected by Robinson.

In April, she’ll show her studentshow to pull apart a pallet, reconstruct it and paint it to make an American fl ag. Robinson supplies the tools and materials and charges a nominal fee of $20.

Prior to starting Simply Janelle Designs about eight years ago, Robinson worked as a language arts teacher at Northwest Middle School. When Reese was born in 2004, she decided to fulfi ll her dream of be-ing a stay-at-home mom and housewife.

With time on her hands and a desire to fl ex her creative muscles, Robinson began sewing clothes for her baby girl. It wasn’t long before other moms noticed Reese’s cute outfi ts and Robinson found herself making clothing for other children. Although an accomplished seamstress, she soon gave up that venture.

These days, 10-year-old Reese does the sewing. She’s currently working on a line of throw pillows that will be available at Gifted, the Oak Ridge shop that’s slated to open in August when Josie’s Boutique closes.

Setting her sewing to the side, Robinson began making photo charms consisting of miniature photos or designs with a sol-dered frame. She has since produced hun-dreds of these unique pieces; her personal collection includes favorite vintage photos

Ace’s crib. In her daughter Reese’s room, the doll house Robinson built is the focal point. No ordinary doll house, this one is eight feet tall and six feet wide and fea-tures some handmade furniture. It’s great for American Girl doll tea parties and even has enough room for 18-month-old Ace to crawl in and take a nap.

Throughout the house are tables and cabinets that had seen better days until Robinson removed and replaced rotten wood to bring new life to these throwaways.

Adept at do-it-yourself projects, Rob-inson is quite comfortable in her base-ment woodworking shop. Handy with power tools, she also enjoys teaching other women the same skills.

Once a month, she hosts a workshop to teach women how to use tools such as the pneumatic air gun, jig saw, sander and drill. During the two- to three-hour

Photos provided by Simply Janelle Designs

This throwaway (left) has found new life as a charming garden bench. The stylish dog kennel (shown at the right) was created from a corner mantel.

20 Spring 2015

Bobbie Gardner

Bobbie’s clients are saying...

Relocation specialistECOBroker /GRI /CRS / E-CERTIFIED(336) 382-5939 • bobbiegardner.com

‘‘Bobbie made us feel like we

were her ultimate priority.”

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to anyone moving to the area.”

‘‘We set the bar high.

She set it higher!”

Finding Your Roots

‘‘Bobbie is a wealth of

information and knowledge.”

Trash to Treasure from p. 19 Lake Carolina from p. 9

about 20 feet of water the next day.The second drowning occurred on April

30, 1948. The body of J.C. Nance, 45, a World War II veteran from Oak Ridge, was found by a group who had been looking for him since he disappeared from home two days before. The Greensboro Daily News said the coroner ruled his death a suicide, noting that Nance had been in poor health for some time.

By the 1940s, the lake was consider-ably reduced in size, said lifelong resident Frank Whitaker, who grew up on property adjoining the lake. He would walk along a dirt road that ran through the academy property and wound through a stand of mature hardwoods to reach the lake.

“In those days, the lake dam had been partially breached by storms and muskrats and was approximately one-half its original surface area, but still large enough to hold quality fi sh (bass, bream and crappie) that attracted local anglers,” said Whitaker.

Whitaker remembers fi shing at the lake with his grandmother.

“We would dig a batch of worms or raid wasp nests of larvae, grab a couple of cane poles and walk to the lake,” Whitaker recalled. “The day’s catch was cooked that evening.”

By that time, all that was left of the boat houses were some pilings.

So what happened to the lake? The dam may have been deliberately destroyed as some believe, but a lack of historical record indicates that theory may be a legend.

Another more likely explanation comes from Brenda Wright, whose husband, Ted, grew up next to campus as the son of the headmaster. She said the dam was washed out during Hurricane Hazel in October 1954.

“All of the buildings were gone by then, and only the poles supporting the raft were still visible,” Wright said.

It’s also possible the lake simply started to slowly dry up over the years. Man-made lakes tend to build up silt and sediment as time goes by. Lake Katherine at the Reynolda House in Winston-Salem is another example of a large lake that slowly turned into wetlands.

The land where the lake once existed was sold in 1974 to Oak Ridge resident Jerry Cooke, who said all that remained when he purchased it was some marshy land near the dam.

A display about Lake Carolina at Oak Ridge Town Hall was put together by Town Clerk Sandra Smith and Mac McAtee,a member of the Oak Ridge HistoricPreservation Commission. The display features newspaper clippings, yearbook photos, an old postcard of the lake and various artifacts, including a number of bullets found on the site by McAtee and Jim Spivey using a metal detector.

Wright said the academy used the area as a rifl e range for a time, shooting across the water into the steep hillside for a bullet stop. The bullets on display likely came from that era.

Although you can no longer visit Lake Carolina, be sure to stop by Oak Ridge Town Hall on Linville Road to view the display.

of her grandparents, shots of her children and reproductions of their artwork.

While her custom photo charms are still in demand, the home furnishings and accessories side of Robinson’s business has exploded.

She gets her weathered wood by fi nd-ing old abandoned barns and tearing them down. But there’s only so much wood she can use, so she sells the surplus to other people who want to do what she’s doing or, on a larger scale, to folks who will use the wood to remodel their homes.

Although she has someone else do the installations, Robinson has worked with numerous homeowners to put in barn wood ceilings and fl oors. Others have added authentic barn doors to their homes, complete with rusty hinges. Some have paneled their walls with the wood.

Finding the items for her designs is al-most as much fun as the actual creation. A self-proclaimed “picker,” Robinson likes nothing more than to join up with pal and fellow Summerfi eld resident, Trish

Naylor (aka “The Shooter’s Wife”), and hit the back roads in search of … well, junk.

“We go driving and start knocking on people’s doors when we see big farms,” says Robinson. “We never know what we might fi nd.”

At the end of the day, they’ll return with a truck fi lled with items just begging to fi nd a new purpose. The pair will often unload everything at Naylor’s place, and then do a Facebook post to announce a sale of surplus items.

Other times, Robinson is content to take what she’s found and give it new life and purpose, all while creating something that will make herself or someone else happy. At Simply Janelle Designs that’s simply what it’s all about.

Want to know more?Simply Janelle Designs(336) 312-5170 •

[email protected]

The Shooter’s Wife (Trish Naylor)(336) 202-8546 •

family of publicationsthe

Our flagship publication, bringing the hometown news to northwest Guilford County since 1996

Featuring home-grown stories about fitness and healthy living

An in-depth preview of the Northern and Northwest High School football seasons

From maintaining & improving your home to a slice of life in the northwest

semi-annual annual

weekly

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

annual

Contact us for advertising info (336) 644-7035, ext. 10 | [email protected]

annual

22 Spring 2015

Throughthe efforts ofthe N.C. State

Beekeepers Associa-tion (NCSBA), the

N.C. General Assembly created its fi rst

full-time apicultureposition at NorthCarolina StateUniversity in

1975.

Honeybees, critical to our ecosystem, are dwindling in population

by STEVE HUFFMAN

If you’re thinking about starting to raise bees – be it as a hobby or for a business – one important issue must be con-sidered, advises Randy Bettini.

“The biggest thing is, you’ve got to get over the fear,” Bettini said. “You’ve got to make sure you can take a sting without having a reaction.”

Bettini and his wife Debbie own Bettini Farm, a fourth generation Italian-American family farm located on Lees Chapel Road in Browns Summit.

Besides raising a variety of crops (in-cluding their specialty crop, shiitake and oyster mushrooms), Bettini also raises

bees. In fact, he fi nds the creatures downright fascinating.

“They’re both interesting and mys-terious,” he said. “One year, they’ll be mak-ing honey as hard as they can and they’re happy. The next couple of years, they’re angry and don’t want anything to do with anyone. It’s hard to fi gure out why.”

Bettini not only raises bees, but he also preaches the wonders of the little creatures to anyone who’ll listen as he

Honey, won’tyou let us bee?

relays the story of the important role they play in the grand scheme of things. Recently, he led a beekeeping seminar at Southern States Cooperative on Lake Brandt Road in Summerfi eld.

One of the topics Bettini covered in his seminar is the dwindling honeybee population.

He has discussed the problem with the Guilford County Beekeepers As-

sociation, and said the group is as perplexed as anyone about

what is going on with the bees.

“They scratch their heads,” he said. “They don’t really know.”

A study from Harvard University which was com-pleted a year ago concluded that pesticides appear to play a key role in killing off the honeybee popula-tion. Authors of the

study said pesticides might lead to “im-

pairment of honeybee neurological functions,

specifi cally memory, cogni-tion or behavior.”

Some believe bees are often exposed to pesticides when chemically treated plants such as corn release pollen into the air. While bees do not pollinate corn, the corn’s pollen makes its way onto fl owers and other crops, by which the bees are exposed.

An article in Time magazine stated that pesticides can be harmful to honeybees

Another word for beekeeping is “apiculture,”derived from the Latin word apis (the biological name for the honeybee). A beekeeper, then, is an apiarist.

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Spring 2015 23

even at levels previously thought safe.Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has

been devastating the honeybee population since at least 2006 and some believe the prob-lem has been around far longer. Possible reasons for CCD include disease, parasites, habitat destruction, stress and lack of access to food sources.

The var-roa mite, a tiny external parasite that sucks the blood from the bee and shortens its life span, appears to be killing off entire colonies of bees and spreading deadly dis-

eases among their ranks.

All of this is bad news for humans because bees, which pol-linate one-third of the fruit and vegetables we eat, play a critical role in our ecosystem.

Despite the decline in the hon-eybee population in recent years, beekeeping as a hobby has sig-nifi cantly gained in popularity across the nation. Guilford County is no exception, with beekeepers located in all corners of the county.

Stokesdale resident Mark Morphies, 49, is one of an estimated 15,000 bee-keepers in North Carolina. He became interested in beekeeping about fi ve years ago when his wife Lisa signed them up for a beekeeping class.

The couple and their three sons have always had what they call a “homestead

mentality,” and beekeeping fi ts in with that lifestyle.

People keep honeybees for

various reasons, Morphies explained. Some do it to make a profi t – either by selling the honey, the bee

colonies or just the queen bees.

Others do it sim-ply because they

enjoy it. Operating size depends upon a

person’s goals. At one time Morphies

had as many as 23 hives, but he sold most of those a couple

of years back. For him, beekeep-ing is defi nitely a hobby rather than a money-making venture.

“We’re not totally self-suffi cient but we like the idea of living

off the

land and keeping things simple,” Morphies said.

Trista Munson’s father worked in the landscaping business. She remembers him talking as far back as 20 years ago about the decline in the number of honeybees.

“He kept shaking his head and saying ‘They’re going

away,’ ” Munson said.Munson, 41, began raising bees

at her residence on Pleasant Ridge Road last year. Her bees have already produced enough honey for her to start selling the product.

Munson is taking beekeeping classes through Forsyth County Community Col-lege and has passed the test to become a certifi ed beekeeper – the fi rst of fi ve steps to becoming a master beekeeper.

She credits George Page for much of her love of honeybees.

Page (Munson refers to the 73-year-old as “Papa George”) is a member of the Forsyth County Beekeepers Association.

“This is all through George right now,” Munson said of her fi rst steps into beekeeping.

Though beekeeping is relatively new to her, it has already given her a feel-ing of satisfaction. A neighbor, who is convinced Munson’s bees are pollinating fl ow-ers at her house a half-mile away, has purchased some of Munson’s honey.

Munson said the woman believes her fl owers are contributing to the honey she’s buying.

“That’s her honey, in a sense,”Munson said.

Want tolearn more?

Much has been learned – and shared – about beekeeping in recent

decades. If you’re interested in learning more, here are

just a few of the manyresources available:

• guilfordbeekeepers.org

• forsythbeekeepers.org

• ncbeekeepers.org

According to the NCSBA’s website, additives or adulteration are prohibited in North Carolina’s honey (based on this, there is no difference between honey labeled as “honey” versus “pure honey”).

The honeybeeis the only insect that

humans raise for food andmedicine (as well as cosmetic uses).

Bees pollinate one-third of thefruit and vegetables that we eat.

A colony of bees consists of20,000-60,000 honeybees and one

queen. Worker honeybees are female, live for about six

weeks and do all the work.

Only the female hon-eybees possess

stingers.

In June 2009,the Honeybee Exhibit

opened at the N.C. Zoo. NCSBA, N.C. Farm Bureau, Syngenta and Zoo Society

donors raised $243,507 to make the exhibit

possible.

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24 Spring 2015

Custom-built homes for over 25 years

(336) 362-0969 | [email protected] | timfrazierbuilders.com

OAK RIDGE

Tim Frazier, owner

Stokesdale Town Councilman Frank Bruno began reviving park discussions in February 2015. He said the park’s fi elds could be used for football, baseball and lacrosse, and additional shelters and a hard court for multiple uses including basketball were suggested.

The ball fi elds, concession stand and picnic shelter are available for rent.

WHAT’S THERE• Two multi-purpose fi elds• Two sand volleyball courts• A paved walking trail• A playground • A nine-hole disc golf course

MORE INFO• Located at 8329 Angel Pardue Road• (336) 643-4011 (Stokesdale Town Hall)• [email protected]• www.stokesdale.org

SUMMERFIELDCOMMUNITY PARK

It’s hard not to smile when you ap-proach the pedestrian entrance of Sum-merfi eld Community Park, where a large artistic sun face smiles down from a wide wrought-iron gate, almost as a reminder that the park is open from sunrise to sunset.

But whether you take that stroll, or park at Summerfi eld Community Center and make your way downhill, you will fi nd a local gem nestled in 52 acres on Centerfi eld Road.

The passive recreation park was estab-lished in 2006, with a second phase opening in 2009. The tree-canopied park centers around the fi ve-acre Schoolhouse Lake, which includes a fl oating-dock fi shing pier and wildlife overlook.

A half-mile “Loop Trail” hugs most of the lake, and a quarter-mile “Tower Trail” shoots

Parks from p. 13

off to the west past a communications tower and back. A nature trail meanders through the northern edge of the park.

Permanent fi tness equipment is sprinkled along the trails at six stations. In 2011, Northwest Guilford Memorial VFW Post 7999 dedicated a veterans memorial.

An amphitheater is perfect for concerts, such as the town’s Music in the Park events each summer. Jeff Goard, Summerfi eld Parks and Recreation manager, said future plans call for a covered shelter over the amphitheater and a connection of the park’s trails to the A&Y Greenway Trail when it extends from Greensboro through Summerfi eld.

The amphitheater, an outdoor class-room, shelters and other facilities may be rented. The nearby Summerfi eld Com-munity Center, which is not town-owned, can be rented as well.

WHAT’S THERE• Playgrounds• Picnic shelters• Orienteering course• Handicapped-accessible trails• Wildlife overlook• Exercise stations• Fishing pier• Veterans memorial• Outdoor amphitheater• Wildfl ower fi eld• Butterfl y garden• Rain garden

MORE INFO• Located at 5404 Centerfi eld Road• (336) 643-8655 (Summerfi eld Town Hall)• jgoard@summerfi eldgov.com• www.summerfi eldgov.com

File photo

Each June, the Town of Summerfi eld hosts a fi shing derby, which draws families to the banks of Schoolhouse Lake. This year’s event will be on Saturday, June 13.

Spring 2015 25

Sponsored by:

Saturday & Sunday, April 25-26 & May 2-3 • 1-5pmAdmission is FREE

Parade of Homes magazines areavailable at the Parade homes as well

as area Harris Teeter and Lowe’s Home Improvement stores

Use our smart phone app or the mobile website to map your tour


SUMMERFIELD ATHLETIC PARK

If your windows are rolled down as you’re traveling through Summerfi eld on U.S. 220 on any given evening or week-end, you’re bound to hear cheers – and maybe even the crack of a bat – emanat-ing from behind gates along the east side of the road.

That’s because a 29-acre athletic facil-ity opened there in 2010. The Summer-fi eld Athletic Park draws several youth sports organizations and other leagues, which practice, play and hold tourna-ments there long into the evening hours thanks to the lighted fi elds.

The two-story concession building includes a press box and restrooms, and the second fl oor is available for rent.

Jeff Goard, Summerfi eld Parks and Recreation manager, said future plans in-clude two more fi elds – either soccer fi elds or a soccer fi eld and a baseball fi eld.

“We know soccer has grown, so we can defi nitely use more fi elds,” he said.

In 2014, Summerfi eld Athletic Park was

the site of about 16 tournaments. This year, tournament reservations have doubled.

More immediate plans include paving an overfl ow parking lot, which the Sum-merfi eld Town Council has said may also include curbs and gutters.

Some of the organizations that use the park include Summerfi eld Recreation Associ-ation, Got Game! Fastpitch Softball, Dynasty Baseball, Greensboro United Soccer Associa-tion and Triad Youth Rugby Association.

WHAT’S THERE• Three baseball/softball fi elds• Multipurpose fi eld• Concession building with restrooms• Fieldhouse room• Playground • Paved parking

MORE INFO• Located at 5200 U.S. 220 North• (336) 643-8655 (Summerfi eld Town Hall) • jgoard@summerfi eldgov.com• www.summerfi eldgov.com

File photo

Summerfi eld Athletic Park has three baseball/softball fi elds, frequently used by organizations and leagues.

26 Spring 2015

Puttingfirstyou

Donna SmithRealtor® / Broker / CSP

[email protected]

(336) 549-0214

It’s all about you! Your wants. Your needs. Your dreams.

Whether you’re selling or buying, give me a call and I’ll help transform your dreams into reality.

Parks from p. 25

TRIAD PARKWhether you’d like to walk, hike or

skate, toss burgers on the grill, try your foot at rock climbing or your hand at fi sh-ing, Triad Park has the accommodations.

Or perhaps you need a 5,000-square-foot indoor rental space, want to pay re-spect to military veterans, or you’re looking for a team-building activity in the treetops. Triad Park can take care of all of that, too.

Guilford and Forsyth counties pur-chased 426 acres and transformed them into Triad Park, a centerpiece cradled in the woods and meadows and straddling their county line. A master plan was created in 1994, with the fi rst phase opening in 1997.

The Carolina Field of Honor is a shin-ing star of the park, and was dedicated in May 2014.

The $5 million tribute to veterans, erected by the War Memorial Foundation, sits on eight acres and features a 60-foot

obelisk surrounded by a jetted water fountain, fl ags and granite stones repre-senting the fi ve branches of the armed forces, a walkway composed of donor bricks and a parade fi eld. A steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center is on permanent display after being dedi-cated at the park on Sept. 11, 2014.

Mike Anderson, director of Forsyth County Parks and Recreation, said the park is almost complete, aside from a bit of extra work on the trails.

Several features will be unveiled on March 28:

• A 4,300-square-foot wood and stone amphitheater boasts a seating capacity of 3,400, with 400 on a concrete plaza in front of the stage and the rest on three acres of sloped lawn.

• An 18-hole disc golf course has two tee locations per hole – long and short – making the course enjoyable andchallenging for players of all skill levels.

• A new large shelter can accommodate

300 people and has an air-conditioned and heated restroom nearby.

WHAT’S THERE• Paved path system for walking, biking

and skating• Natural hiking trails• Three playgrounds• Nine horseshoe pits• Seven sand volleyball courts• Softball and soccer fi elds• Indoor banquet facility• Seven picnic shelters• Four gazebos• Picnic tables with grills• Rock-climbing playground• Great Heights Challenge Course

• Vendor area with shelter and area for infl atables

• Catch-and-release fi shing pond

MORE INFO• Located at 9652 W. Market St., Kernersville• (336) 703-2500 • www.forsyth.cc/Parks/Triad

Photo courtesy of Triad Park

The Great Heights Challenge Course provides interactive, engaging programming to build upon strengths and address chal-lenges through the promotion of leadership development, individual growth and group cohesiveness. A private company operates it within Triad Park, and more info can be found at www.greatheights.us.

Spring 2015 27

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For the exceptional service you deserve, contact me today!

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2215 Oak Ridge RoadOak Ridge

(and more importantly, what can you doabout them?)by STEVE HUFFMAN

Though moles and voles do most of their work underground and are rarely seen, their presence is evident.

The yard pests are both mouse-like varmints known for doing damage to lawns and gardens. But they’re vastly dif-ferent creatures.

Though moles lurk in their subter-ranean fortresses throughout the year, gardening and lawn-care enthusiasts are keenly aware of them mainly during the spring and fall, especially after periods of rain, when they push mounds of dirt up to the ground surface.

A mole lives off a carnivorous diet – eating grub worms and adult insects. It’s not a rodent so it doesn’t gnaw.

A vole is a rodent and gnaws at the bases of trees and shrubs. Its diet is vegetarian.

They’re both hard as the dickens to get rid of.

“I’ve fought voles my entire career,” said Rett Davis, a certifi ed arborist and retired Alamance County extensiondirector. “I’ve given up. They’ve won.”

A vole lives primarily by eating the stems and blades of lawn grass. The runways they leave behind in the process make for unsightly lawns.

Voles can also damage plants by burrowing into the root systems of trees and shrubs, causing young specimens to experience dieback or to begin to lean. Davis said one of the signs of voles are holes about the size of quarters in a yard.

“Roses will fall over and they love tulips,”

Moles versus voles:what’s the difference?

Take the stories for what they’re worth, Davis warned.

“I’ve heard every old wives’ tale there is,” he said.

There are also commercial products such as Mole Away advertised as a sure cure for the creatures.

“People say, ‘Rett, they don’t work,’ ” Davis said. “I tell them, ‘I know.’

“(Moles) just keep going their merry way. I say, let them go their merry way.”

Davis said that like voles, the dam-age done by moles is relatively minor. Homeowners can easily invest hundreds of dollars in cures in hopes of getting rid of the creatures, but the end result will likely be disappointing.

“The best way to get rid of them is, you don’t,” Davis said.

Maybe and maybe not, countered

Christie Steele, owner and operator of A All Animal Control in Greensboro. The company serves Guilford and surround-ing counties.

Steele said her business gets calls throughout the year from homeowners wanting help battling moles. The calls increase in spring, she said.

The only way to get rid of moles is to trap them, then put down a repellent that keeps them from returning, Steele said.

“We try to prevent that from hap-pening,” she said of the cycle of differ-ent moles migrating to a yard once the previous occupants have been trapped and removed.

Steele’s company charges a base rate of $399 for mole removal. That covers the cost of four weeks of trapping, plus a repellent.

Davis said. “Tulips are like candy to them.”He said he knew a homeowner who

trapped and killed 32 voles in a single year. Unfortunately, the efforts to get rid of the creatures didn’t do a lot of good – in the absence of voles in his yard, those from the neighbor’s tract simply moved in to fi ll the void.

The best way to get rid of voles, Davis advised, may be to plant plants they don’t like. Narcissus is a genus that includes fl ower bulbs like daffodils, jonquils, paper-whites and more. The bulbs of the fl owers are poisonous, so the voles avoid them.

In the grand scheme of things voles do little damage to yards, so it may be easier to simply learn to live with them.

“They’re nothing but fi eld mice, basi-cally,” Davis said. “You can set traps, but get rid of one bunch and there’s another bunch right behind them.”

Putting out poison for them is illegal in North Carolina, Davis warned.

The situation is much the same with moles, which live underground. Their cylin-drical bodies and powerful front claws are ideal for digging. Moles create a complex network of interconnected chambers by burrowing both deep and close to the sur-face where they often leave visible ridges.

The primary nuisance complaint con-cerning moles deals with their rigid tunnels, which they can leave all over a lawn.

Davis said he’s heard a number of suggested cures for mole problems. Some deal with leaving chewing gum in their tunnels so they’ll swallow it. Suppos-edly, the gum expands in their stomachs and they die.

There are similar tales involving leav-ing broken glass in the tunnels and wait-ing for the moles to chew it.

Voles (left) are rodents; the creatures live on a vegetarian diet (primarily stems and blades of grass). Moles are not rodents; they live underground and eat grub worms and adult insects.

28 Spring 2015

Here I am!On page 10, we asked if you could identify eight small photos taken from around the northwest Guilford County

area. Well, here are the answers – how did you fare?

1

2

4

1. This large sun has shined on pedestrians arriving at the entrance of Summerfi eld Community Park since 2008. It sits in the center of a stately, arched gate that measures 26-feet-by-9-feet, and is the handiwork of Summerfi eld welder and blacksmithRandy Huffman. Michael Brandt, who was Summerfi eld’s town manager at the time the gate was installed, said it was “intendedto be a welcoming symbol for the community.”

4. This little caninefellow graces the sign

at Furry Friends and Company Pet Groom-

ing, located at 7207 Alcorn Road in northwest

Greensboro.

2. This turret graces the top of the historic Taylor-Edwards home, located near the central business district of Stokesdale. The home is believed to have been built around 1865, perhaps as a hospital. Later, Dr. C.W. Taylor and his wife lived in the downstairs and he prac-ticed medicine upstairs. The property served as home to A New Dawn Realty from 2008 until 2011.

3. This silo stands at Pleasant Ridge Golf Course at 1518 Pleasant Ridge Road in northwest Greensboro.

3

Spring 2015 29

8. Two poles sporting bird houses made of gourds stand in the grass by Courtyards of Summerfi eld on Summerfi eld Road, located across from Summerfi eld Elementary School. Did you notice the bird in the house at the top?

6. Have you spotted this “Buddha belly” … and have you rubbed it?

This sculpture is one of fi ve that have been placed throughout Bur-Mil Park in northwest Greensboro over the last three years.

Todd Moore, park supervisor, says a grad student at UNC-Greensboro approached park offi cials about displaying his works and the park accepted the pieces “as an experimental deal.”

“I can’t say I’m pleased with all of them, but I do like the Buddha belly,” Moore says.

We shared the photo on the Northwest Observer’s Facebook page, and observant friends pinpointed the Buddha belly’s location as attached to a tree in a curve between the fi shing pier and the pond on the A&Y Greenway.

5

6

7

8

5. This decorative scroll work can be found on a wrought iron fence that borders the Oak Ridge Military Academy campus along N.C. 150.

7. This cross is embedded in the brickwork on the side of Central Baptist Church, which faces N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge.

30 Spring 2015

Neighbors’ Responses from p. 7

home in Summerfield. When asked why they moved, Jennifer had several reasons. “We had too many years of high taxes with not much return, tough winters, heavy traf-fic, attitudes, unfunded education… and did I say tough winters?” she says.

Two of Jennifer’s favorite things about our area are the people and the weather. “Here people actually welcome you, make eye contact and say hello, ask how you are and mean it,” she says. “Within two days of moving in, the welcome committee was at our door. We have had non-stop fun with our new friends and neighbors.”

Then, there’s the North Carolina weather. “You cannot beat this weather, just beautiful,” says Jennifer. “All our friends in Connecticut have had the worst winter they can ever remember. It’s 65 degrees and sunny today, but 40 degrees with 6-foot-high piles of snow in Connecticut.”

The variety of restaurants is another selling point for living here. “There are a lot of fantastic restaurants within a short distance and they are not all Italian,” she says. “We do miss New Haven-style pizza though, but really, I will live.”

Originally from the Boston area, Nancy Osborne has endured five relocations and moved to Oak Ridge after living in the university town of Cedar Falls, Iowa, 10 years ago.

One of the biggest dif-ferences she sees between the Triad and her last hometown is the diversity of activities. She says there are a wider variety of things to do here both cultural and recreational wise. From the Triad area, both the mountains and beach are equally accessible. Plus, she doesn’t have to travel far to enjoy what she considers to be one of the area’s hid-den treasures – Oak Ridge Town Park.

Since living here, Nancy has devel-oped a taste for the different kinds of seafood and peaches. One thing puzzles her, though. “I don’t understand the love of banana pudding,” she confesses.

Chief E. Daryl Duff left the Washington, D.C., area and moved to Oak Ridge last August to take on the role of music in-structor for Oak Ridge Military Academy. Though not that far away, the nation’s capital and Oak Ridge are a world apart.

“The people are so friendly here. It seems everybody knows everybody,” says Chief, who is quickly gaining notori-ety himself. “Just to be honest, there are not that many black people here in Oak Ridge, so being black, 6-foot-5-inches and 300 pounds, I kind of stick out. Add to that, I am retired Navy. So living at and working for an Army JROTC college prep school… again, I stick out.”

When asked about the weather here, Chief has found it to be a disappoint-ment. “It’s cold here,” he says. “I thought I

moved to the South!”Getting used to the local colloquialisms and

accents is an ongo-ing challenge. “For instance, I asked for directions to Wal-Mart from the Acad-emy,” he says. “I was told to ‘go straight

down 150 to Kerners-ville and you’ll run right

into it.’ To this D.C. area transplant there was no ‘straight’ down 150…but I eventually did ‘run into’ it.

“I absolutely love the hand waving and horn blowing of trucks and cars as they drive by just to say ‘hey,’” he adds. “(And,

when) I hear a local woman’s accent, it makes me smile and feel all warm inside.”

Acknowledging he may be a bit partial, Chief believes the military academy is defi-nitely an area treasure. He recalls a recent conversation he had with a campus visitor. “I remember her words exactly because

they stuck with me,” he says. “She was so impressed with the campus and she said ‘this is a real jewel in the community.’” He couldn’t agree more.

Nancy LaDore and her husband left Milford, Connecticut, and set up house in Summerfield. Since they’ve been here, Nancy’s found a lot of things to enjoy about the area including friendly people, a slower-paced lifestyle, four seasons with little snow shoveling, year-round golf and a lower cost of living than in the Northeast.

“The weather here is great,” she says. “(There’s a) longer spring and fall and I’m loving the mild winters.”

Overall, she finds the local food to be good, but she does miss her favorites. “The Italian food, pizza, bread and bagels are not as good as in the Northeast,” she says.

However, Nancy has managed to acquire a taste for some South-ern fare – vinegar-based barbecue, pickled okra and moonshine. (We’re not sure where she’s getting her moonshine and we didn’t ask.)

Along the way, Nancy has also found a couple of places she considers to be hidden treasures – Iron Hen and Gia-como’s Italian Market.

Originally from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, Nicole Fahnestock has spent half of her life in Summerfield but she doesn’t feel she’s been ‘Southernized.’ “Once a Southern California girl, always a Southern California girl,” says Nicole.

Nicole and her former husband and two sons ended up in North Carolina after visiting his family in Kitty Hawk. “We loved the openness and the idea of actu-ally raising our boys in a house with a big yard they could play in,” says Nicole. “We divorced and I remarried and raised my boys here. This was home.”

This West Coast girl sees a lot of dif-ferences between here and her native

state. “The weather, oh, the weather in California is much nicer and I miss the cool evenings and warm days with no humidity,” says Nicole.

She also finds the people to be very different here. “Moving to North Carolina was a major culture shock for me,” she admits. “When I first moved to Greens-boro it was a lot smaller and it took me awhile to fit in. People were not as ac-cepting of ‘non Southerners.’”

The landscape and season changes are two of the things Nicole

has found appealing. “I really love the land and

the green grass,” she says. “(I love) the beauty of the changing sea-sons and the spring and fall here.”

She misses the food from her home state. “I’m

not crazy about the food here,” she admits. “I was not raised on fried foods, barbecue or grits. Oh, but biscuits! I never had biscuits until I moved here! Those are delicious!”

Sarah Smith, who recently left her native state of Ohio and relocated to the Sum-merfield area, has found a lot to like about her new home. “There truly is ‘Southern hospitality,’” says Sarah. “I’ve heard this all my life but moving here confirmed it. My new neighbors and friends have been wonderful. They really made this transition much easier for me and my family.

“We are very excited to have the ocean much closer. We are an outdoor, adventurous family and there is just so much more to do and explore… moun-tains, oceans, parks, etc. Not to mention my kids are actively involved in sporting activities and in North Carolina you can play almost year-round.”

She’s still working on getting accus-tomed to the Southern expressions. “I would say the phrase I’m having a hard time adjusting to is ‘Bless your heart,’” she says. “I can’t decide if people use it sincerely or sarcastically.”

Photo by Gerri Hunt

Oak Ridge Town Park offers many amenities,

including a wooded bike trail.

File photo

Blooming redbud trees are a sure sign of spring

in North Carolina.

BUILDING & REMODELING

Builders MD .................................................3

Cardinal Millwork & Supply.........................18

Disney Construction ...................................10

Don Mills Builders .........................................5

Greater Greensboro Builders Association ...25

Morton Buildings ..........................................9

Paradise Decking ....................................... 11

Tim Frazier Builders ....................................24

HOME PRODUCTS & SERVICES

A Shade Better .............................................7

BEK Pain Company ....................................23

Boone Decorative Fabrics ...........................22

Colfax Lawn Care .......................................15

Crystal Clear Window Cleaning ..................12

Eanes Heating and Air Conditioning ............2

Furniture Medic ..........................................20

Garage Door Pro ..........................................6

Interior Design Solutions by Maria ................6

Laurie Acree Designs ..................................19

Little Dave’s Landscape Management .........8

The Louver Shop ........................................ 13

Marshall Stone ...........................................32

Triad Dog Fence .........................................19

Triad Land Surveying ....................................6

MISCELLANEOUS

Oak Ridge Historic Preservation .................14

Northwest Observer on Facebook .............. 31

Northwest FINDER ..................................... 31

PS Communications ................................... 21

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS & SERVICES

A New Dawn Realty ...................................10

Ann Powell, Allen Tate................................12

Bill Houser, Houser Triad Realty .................16

Bobbie Gardner, Keller Williams .................20

Bobbie Maynard, Allen Tate .......................16

Chandra Tippett, BHHS Yost & Little ......... 17

Dede Cunningham, Allen Tate ...................16

Donna Smith, Keller Williams .....................26

Gail Kerber, Ridgewood Realty ................... 17

Gil Vaughan, Keller Williams ...................... 17

Johnnye Letterman, BHHS Yost & Little ..... 17

Kathy McClelland, BHHS Yost & Little ........ 17

Melissa Shelar, Allen Tate ...........................16

Nancy Hess, BHHS Yost & Little ................16

Phillip Stone, A New Dawn Realty ..............16

Ramilya Siegel ..............................................4

Roseann Staaf, Allen Tate ..........................27

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