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Patti Stokes, editor/publisher Laura Reneer, marketing manager Kelli Jessup, publisher’s assistant Rene Collins, administrative assistant Yvonne Truhon, graphic designer Leon Stokes, IT director Lucy Smith, finance manager Linda Schatz and Tom McCoy, distribution Chris Burritt, staff writer; Helen Ledford, Meredith Barkley, Lily Pierce and Annette Joyce, contributing writers email: info • celebrations • photos communitynews • realestatenews calendarevents • grinsandgripes opinions • editor • questions ... @ nwobserver.com phone: (336) 644-7035 fax: (336) 644-7006 office: 1616 NC 68 N, Oak Ridge mail: PO Box 268, Oak Ridge, NC 27310 hours: vary, so please call before dropping by

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Independently owned & published by I noticed the Realtor’s “Under Contract” sign at the entrance to Northwest Observer’s office property off N.C. 68 in Oak Ridge.

No, PS Communications, which publishes the Northwest Observer and five annual special-focus publications, is not going out of business. The property in Oak Ridge that our company has occupied the last 12 ½ years is owned by L&P Properties, an LLC belonging to Leon and Patti Stokes (me); my husband and I purchased the property in late 2008 and after making some alterations to accommodate PS Communications, my company began leasing the property in PS Communications, publisher of the Northwest Observer, is not going out of business, but we are making preparations to move our offi ce from its current location in Oak Ridge.

April 2009. We have very much enjoyed the spacious office building and 6.14 acres it rests on, but it has always been more than we needed for business ...continued on p. 6

by ANNETTE JOYCE OAK RIDGE – There’s just something about Carolyn Brown that draws people to her. Maybe it’s her sweet smile or her cheery, humble demeanor. Or it could be her willingness to do whatever needs doing. One thing’s for sure, Brown has touched untold numbers of people in and around Oak Ridge for well over 80 years.

Brown made a huge impact on countless families through her 25 years working as school secretary at Oak Ridge Elementary.

“Carolyn is the reason we settled in Oak Ridge over 34 years ago,” said Danny Yanusz, who moved his young family at the time from New York. “We walked into the school during our search for a new community to call home. Carolyn was working in the front office, and she warmly welcomed us with that smile of hers.”

As a charter member of Oak Ridge Lions Club, Brown is known as “Lion Carolyn,” and she takes that role seriously.

“The Lions Club mainly helps the sight impaired and we do what we can to help out,” Brown said.

“Helping out” involves collecting used eyeglasses, delivering them to NC Lions for distribution in thirdworld countries and raising funds to pay for exams and eyeglasses.

Brown has faithfully contributed to keeping the club strong.

“I’ve held every office in the Lions Club but president. I’m not an engine, I’m a caboose,” she said with a laugh.

Working behind the scenes, Brown handles logistics for the club’s participation in the Adopt-A-Highway program, its broom sales and applicant screening for visual aid assistance. And most notably, she is a standout when it comes to helping with the club’s annual Tom Brown Memorial Golf Tournament, a fundraiser that carries the name of her late husband.

“Carolyn is very successful in rounding up players and securing sponsors,” Yanusz said. “It is her youthful drive and ambition, and of course that smiling face that adds to that success. She has always been a driving force for our Lions Club and an inspiration to us all.”

Sandra Smith, Brown’s daughter, notes that her mom doesn’t hesitate in approaching strangers to inquire if they’d like to play in the club’s tournament, and she’s even been known to solicit golfers while standing in grocery store check-out lines.

Some of Brown’s boldness probably comes from the many years she and her late husband, Tom, spent working with the Oak Ridge Horse Show to sign up volunteers and sell ads and sponsorships.

A member of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, Brown is active in several ministries including the Mary Martha Circle, Copper Coins Widow Club and the card committee, which sends cards to shut-ins.

She’s also a member of Preservation Oak Ridge Foundation and has assisted with restoring the historic Ai Church at the corner of N.C. 68 and Alcorn Road.

Until about five years ago, Brown was a well-recognized character around town at Christmastime. She was Mrs. Claus alongside her husband’s

Santa Claus; after Tom’s passing, she continued the tradition for several years by partnering with friend and neighbor Jim King. At 87, Brown is still enthusiastic about helping other people and intent on finding ways to spread some happiness along the way. As an example, she decided to take ukulele lessons and rather than sending cards for people’s birthdays, she calls individuals and sings and plays for them. On random Sundays, she likes to host what she calls “Music on the Porch” and invites local musicians to play on her front porch. “Anybody and everybody can come listen,” she said. Plus, she has a talent for taking everyday events – such as nearly choking on a French fry – and turning them into whimsical poems that she animatedly recites from memory. Brown has been blessed with two sons, who have sadly both passed away, a daughter, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and another due in with a laugh. September.

Photo by Annette Joyce/NWO

purposes (I have called it my “beautiful luxury”), especially so since most of the business-related transactions that used to bring readers and advertisers to our office on a more frequent basis are now handled online, and the majority of my employees and writers work remotely, with those who work in the office only there on a part-time basis.

L&P Properties hopes to finalize the sale of the Oak Ridge property in late September, at which time PS Communications will relocate. As to where that will be, we aren’t certain, but we hope to stay in Oak Ridge, where I have operated the business since moving it out of my home over 21 years ago.

By the way, in preparation for downsizing, we’ll be having a yard sale and giveaway sometime in the next several weeks so that we can pass along some of the things we no longer need. We will of course be advertising the sale/ giveaway in the Northwest Observer and on our Facebook page, so stay tuned!

As it stands this week, universal mask requirements will be in place for everyone inside GCS buildings, including athletes participating in sports played indoors. However, masks will not be required on Guilford County Schools’ campuses when outdoors, which means athletes and spectators will not have to wear masks when participating in or attending outdoor sporting events.

The Guilford County Board of Education, which approved GCS Superintendent Sharon Contreras’ recommendations for mask requirements at its July 27 meeting, also approved Contreras’ recommendation to provide free COVID-19 testing to individuals who are not vaccinated. The tests would be funded by NCDHHS and would be mandatory for those who are not vaccinated who also participate in athletics and other high-risk extracurricular activities in which increased exhalation occurs, such as marching band – unless the student-athlete has a diagnosed and/or documented pre-existing medical condition that prevents him/her from wearing a mask.

Adobe Stock photo To start off the school year, Guilford County Schools’ staff and students will be required to wear face coverings when indoors; the school system’s mask mandate will be reevaluated at the end of every quarter.

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