Belmont

There is an article in today’s Gaston Gazette about a homeless man’s trek across our community.

As the east side of Gaston County grows, both “gateway” citities of Belmont and Mt. Holly must face the issue of adequate housing, sheltering, and relationships with the temporary homeless and the chronic homeless.

Our editorial board has a split opinion of solutions or steps necessary to address the issue in our small town. Homelessness is an issue that needs to be as close to a consensus agreement as possible for the problem to be addressed adequately. We are seeking our neighbor’s opinions and solutions.

Belmont and Mt. Holly have crisis management programs in the form of the BCO, CRO and SOCKS; temporary solutions for women and children at Catherine’s House; support for teens and young men through With Friends — although they had relocated to Gastonia; and, local Housing Authorities are addressing permanancy.

One thing is for sure, on this day, homeless families and individuals do exist in communities regardless of the impression of prosperity. How we respond to people in this situation identifies what type of community we are and we hope to be… 

The current heatwave and drought conditions are making life difficult hereabouts. Sports have been shuffled, a/c units breaking down, and fire hydrants are chasing dogs over in Pinsto and Amity Acres. Today (Thursday) was 102 with heat index of 107; yesterday was 101 and heat index of 104. Tomorrow (Friday, the 10th) is supposed to be cooler, just about 99 or so — yeah, right.

Still no rain.

Belmont is in a Stage One Water Alert. That means you only are allowed to water twice per week — whatever. Don’t waste the water, people ! The only really green grass around here is on the Lineberger Stadium field at South Point HS.

(Lower Tennis Courts at Davis Park) 

Last night, well, late last night, we were sitting on The Front Porch, and some of kid’s friends were talking about the Belmont Skatepark that was discussed more than a couple of years ago. Yes, in the 77 degree, 11:30 PM nighttime heat.

Anyway, the teens were asking about what happened. We explained to them that the city council had approved a bond referendum to designate funds for the skatepark construction. One young man, said, “in my lifetime?”, “yes” was the response. The original location was supposed to be the lower tennis courts at Davis Park, who knows now what the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will do…

$115,000 of the proposed $12 million dollar Parks and Recreation Bond package will be directed to this project. Not in time for one of the best skaters in Belmont though, Phillip Nguyen.

The space is a great place to put a park such as this. We hope that it will be dedicated to Phillip.