Small Town

printed here by permission from www.realtytimes.com  

by Brodrick Perkins      

Consumer Reports is advising consumers to recession-proof their financial future by taking steps to shield four areas of financial life that are vulnerable to a shrinking economy.

Housing is one of those areas.

Even though economic growth is chugging along just ahead of the traditional definition of a recession — two consecutive quarters of decline in the Gross Domestic Product — some economists say the nation is skirting precariously close to the edge of economic rupture.

UCLA Anderson Forecast economists recently reported the economy is “certainly close” to a recession even as it conceded an economic about face is not imminent.

Consumer Reports says because a recession is declared in hindsight, consumers who wait for the announcement will put their finances in peril.

Along with the three areas of financial life that need attention now — investments, borrowing and employment — a fourth area, housing, is already taking a beating in a growing number of markets. Housing woes are symptomatic of recessionary conditions.

Here’s how Consumer Reports suggests homeowners prepare to get through hard times that could be ahead.

Copyright © 2007 Realty Times. All Rights Reserved.

The Wal-Mart effect: Build it, and THEY will come !

Several years ago the political lines in the Belmont area were pretty well divided over growth issues. Type of Growth, Rate of Growth, Vision of Community, Sense of Belonging, and the kicker — Property Rights.

The mill community mentality, taken from the farms and hills of the early twentieth century learned young’uns the value of owning property if you “cud git ahold a sum”. Gaston County divided itself along the lines of the “Haves”, and the “Have Nots”.

The funny thing during the debate process (some called it “steamrolling”) was that nobody discussed the attendant collateral damage of big box development.

The collateral damage is the “flow-through” of increased traffic that these types of development brings to an area. Increased malicious mischief, vandalism, theft, and larceny are the damages.

(Belmont Police photo published in Gazette)

This series is not just “kids with nothing to do”. It is not necessarily gang-related either.

Belmont Police Chief David James, always on the lookout for more money to increase the size of his force, commented on the potential of these issues in the original series of debates. Of course, his eye was on the development of his department — remember we built that grand new police department building on Chronicle Street with an eye on the future – (re: bigger than needed) 

The article in the Gazette about the recent rash of auto break-ins, noted the neighborhoods where these occurred. “Build It, and They will come !” Works for both good and bad.

What can the community do? Well, besides call the police?

Be vigilant in your travels through town. Not paranoid, just observant.

With a lot of new people in the area, new homes, bigger dogs (which always seem to come with the type of folk who want to make some kind of “statement”), fancy-schmanzy cars, we need to try to reach out and make a community that is larger than the great walls that have been erected around several of the subdivisions.

Community Watch efforts are always good. The Neighborhood Preservation portion of the new Land Use Plan, can and should encourage these community efforts. Maybe Chief James would seek out funding opportunities to support Community Watch and Community Policing efforts.  Another idea is to encourage police officers to live in the community. Many of our recent police recruits don’t live here, why should they care what they see as they are driving out of town at the end of their shift?

What efforts are being made to encourage/require public safety personnel to be active members of the community? Granted, there are a few who do live here, but as the force grows, what is being done?

The big deal a few years ago was to allow officers to drive their vehicle home — helps as a deterrent to crime. Problem is, We have never seen those cars in our various neighborhoods, unless there is a called-in issue.  

Presence, vigilance, and connectivity help keep communities safe for everyone. Maybe the police department can use some of their funding from us to do more along those lines rather than buying more stuff…

(Gazette Photo- courtesy of Belmont Historical Society)

Anybody who grew up in Belmont has a favorite memory of Stowe Park. Who can’t remember riding the Ferris wheel and being stopped at the very top? Or the big colored lights that hung over the walkways from Main Street down into the park? Watching movies at the amphitheater or dancing on the dance floor? Or being so small and looking up at the big sliding board?

But perhaps your most vivid recollection is the train that circled the upper part of the park and went through the tunnel.

The Belmont historical Society has recently been given the train and has formed a Stowe Park Train restoration committee. The members of the committee plan to paint the train its original colors and store it at its home on Catawba Street. Plans also include restoring one of the passenger cars.

The storage building is on the back of the property of the Cultural and Heritage Learning Center. Citizens are asked to bring any old pictures of Stowe Park to the center to have copies made. The train was recently on exhibit at the Summer Fest at Stowe Park.

Donations are being accepted for the restoration and are tax deductible. For more information, call (704) 825-4848.

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