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LEIGH DYER

Stowe Gardens gets votes

as your favorite discovery Newcomers: What’s your favorite discovery since moving here?

The most popular answer among a group I invited to the Observer’s newsroom recently for a newcomer forum was the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont.

“We went to the Stowe Gardens and it was one of the best days we have spent here,” said Shirley Klein, who moved to south Charlotte’s Carmel Forest neighborhood from Scottsdale, Ariz., last August. “It was beautiful. It’s a well-kept secret. We didn’t know about it.”

It’s definitely a must-see. In 1991, retired textile executive Daniel Stowe designated about 400 acres of peaceful meadows for preservation as a botanical garden. Now visitors can stroll through more than 100 of them during all four seasons. The garden is home to special events and concerts throughout the year, including July 4th and Labor Day, and installs lights during the Christmas holiday season. The garden includes 12 fountains and is a popular spot for weddings.

When I visited last week, I met newcomer Andrea Kropfelder, visiting with her 6-year-old-daughter Layne for the first time since moving to Belmont from Chicago. “We think it’s gorgeous. We love it,” she said.

Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; $10 adults, $9 seniors; $5 children 4-12; younger kids and members free. 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont; 704-825-4490; www.dsbg.org.

Have a local discovery to share? Please get in touch. Got a question?

704-358-5058

or Ldyer@charlotteobserver.com

Source: http://www.charlotte.com/living/columnists/leigh_dyer/story/225617.html

What not to wear to Gaston County schools, according to the school system’s dress code:

·       Pants cannot hang below the waist.

·       No extra-long or tall tees, tall sweatshirts, tall jerseys or tall jackets/coats

·       Shoes must be worn at all times ·       No bedroom slippers or pajama attire·       No mesh shirts, cut-off T-shirts, biker/spandex shorts or pants with holes above the knees·       All shirts/tops are to cover the midriff completely

·       Shorts and skirts cannot be any shorter than mid-thigh in length.·       Gym shorts can only be worn in P.E.·       Overall straps are to be fastened properly·       No hats, hoods, bandanas or sunglasses

·       Sexually explicit words or drawings, profanity, alcohol, drug or gang symbols cannot be worn

•        Underwear shouldn’t be seen  

What you can wear and still look good:   

(yeah, right)      

·       Patchwork plaid Bermuda shorts are good alternatives for short shorts.

·       Short-sleeved hoodies with puffed sleeves are also in style.

·       Girls can also wear ballet flats as opposed to flip-flops.

·       Guys can also wear Bermuda shorts, plaid shorts and polo shirts.

·       Jeans for guys are becoming darker and more fitted.  The shape of jeans is changing, and they’re not going to be as low rise. The waistlines on jeans are moving up.

Can anyone say uniforms?

By Heidi Flick, Gaston Gazette

July 14, 2007  BELMONT – With its first meeting to ask the public for input on a new riverfront park, Belmont is developing a more detailed recreation plan for its upcoming $12 million bond referendum.

City Council voted last week to apply to the Local Government Commission for approval to put the bonds on the November ballot.

The Parks and Recreation advisory committee recommended a total of $10.8 million to build new parks and improve existing ones.

The council, which has faced escalating project costs before, increased the amount to $12 million.

The bonds would be issued over seven years and as Belmont’s population grows, the impact on property taxes will be minimal, possibly 1 to 2 cents, City Manager Barry Webb said.

Here’s a look at what the referendum will cover and the priority of projects:

•  $115,000 for skateboard park
  First priority is a skateboard park on land owned by the city at Davis Park, said Sallie Stevenson, Parks and Recreation director.
  “The city bought the land years ago,” she said. “We’re just keeping our promise.”
  Recreation workers have been meeting with skaters, who will help plan the layout and ramps.
  “We want to make it something they want to use,” Stevenson said.
• $1,200,000 to buy land and $5,100,000 to develop a 30-acre athletic park that would include multiple ballfields and soccer fields
  The city has not chosen a property for the park, but it will be a high priority as the cost of land increases annually, Stevenson said.
• $1,500,000 to develop trails and park areas on property at Woodrow Avenue and Sacco Streets near Reid Park
  The 28-acres of hills and woods is ideal for walking and mountain bike trails, Stevenson said.
  “It would look like a state park, but in the city.”
• 1,500,000 to develop a riverfront park on Catawba Street near the U.S. 74 bridge
  The area has been used for years by fishermen and includes an island in the middle of the river. Amenities could include boat launches, picnic areas, walking trails and paddleboats.
  The city owns the land, and a buyer is in the process of moving or demolishing the three abandoned houses there.
•  $1,000,000 to build restrooms at existing parks
  “That’s become our citizens’ number one request over the last 10 years,” Stevenson said.
  The city also needs to purchase the land at Crescent Park near Adam’s Bluff, she said. Stowe Mills has been letting the city use the land for free without an agreement. 
• $402,000 to build four neighborhood mini parks of about an acre each.
  They usually include a playground, a half basketball court and a small lawn.

You can reach Heidi Flick at (704) 869-1817.
Source Article: http://www.gastongazette.com/news/park_7184___article.html/city_land.html

A million dollars for “potties in parks”? Com’on recreation committee! The brick, non-air conditioned new facility in Stowe Park didn’t cost that much. At roughly $250,000 each, you would get four facilities in four different parks (Davis — which already has restrooms at the ballfield; Rhodden; the new waterfront park; and now Crescent) . Seems to us, that those restrooms also need to have security issues reviewed and long-term maintenance and replacement costs incorporated into the plans. Is this the same city that tore down facilities at Reid Park a few years ago?

Since this article was written, the city presented plans to begin developing the waterfront park. We haven’t found any links to that plan just yet. Several people at that presentation basically threatened to not support this bond issue if their “pet” projects weren’t included. That is unfortunate, because this is the first time the City of Belmont has ever considered this type of financing for our growing Parks and Recreation demands.

We are supporting this bond referendum in November.