Community

If you are looking for money for your community project, there is a program called, My Hometown Helper sponsored by General Mills Corporation.

Currently, no projects have been submitted from either Belmont or Mt. Holly community groups.

With all the groups selling wrapping paper and candy bars, it seems that some would be interested in applying for funding. The grant requests can be up to $15,000.

Of course, the Gastonia Police Department submitted a request for fitness equipment. Go figure, they get free food at most restaurants and convenient stores, reduced rates at the area fitness clubs, and are allowed to drive with cell phones attached to their ears — and now they NEED fitness equipment.

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… 

(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.