Mockup revised

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2014

TA L K O F T H E TOW N

WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY IN A CHILD’S LIFE

CHRISTMAS PARADE DRAWS A HUGE CROWD

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contents NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

THE BUZZ 4

What’s Happening In and Around Belmont

FEATURES 6 12

When You Live In The Local Economy The Importance Of Play In A Child’s Life

ON THE COVER Start the holiday season off right with the annual Belmont Christmas Parade on Dec. 2nd from 4pm-5:30pm. This community favorite, is for all the kids of community, both young and old.

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NEW BUSINESSES 10

> South Fork Village Apartments > Pre-School Connection Learning Academy > The Dental Business > Belmont Soda Fountain

UPCOMING EVENTS 16

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October 2014 thru January 2015

CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS Submit your stories, photos and events at dscole@gobizwell.com • Announce your business • Highlight community news • Submit upcoming events

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the

BUZZ What’s happening in and around town

SPIRIT OF THE FIGHTING YANK MOVES TO STOWE PARK A group of Belmont residents asked the Belmont city council for permission to move the Spirit of the Fighting Yank statue from Belmont Middle School to Stowe Park in 2013. After much public input, the city council approved the relocation of the statue honoring World War II veterans.

The group raised money from individuals, businesses, and foundations, and moved the statue to Stowe Park on June 18, 2014. A memorial plaza will be constructed around the statue in the coming weeks.

The statue is one of five Fighting Yank statues in the country made by E.M. Viquesney and was erected at Belmont Middle School (then Belmont High School) in 1946.

RAIL TRAIL PROJECT The City of Belmont is working with the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to build a 10' greenway along the inactive railroad corridor that runs from downtown Belmont north to Belmont Abbey College and on to Woodlawn Avenue. Click here for a map of this rail corridor. This trail would provide a safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle connection between downtown, the Sisters of Mercy, Belmont Abbey College, and North Belmont. It is also a part of the Carolina Thread Trail.

The City completed a feasibility study on the project

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in 2011 that was funded by a grant by the Carolina Thread Trail. The study was conducted by LandDesign and HDR and was facilitated by a steering committee consisting of representatives from Belmont Abbey, Sisters of Mercy, local residents, city staff, NCDOT, and Carolina Thread Trail staff. The study included the feedback we received during several public meetings and from interviews with stakeholders.

As the NCDOT and City of Belmont were ready to begin the design of the project, both parties were informed that special legislative approval from the North Carolina General Assembly was needed for the project to continue.

Thanks to the leadership of NC Senator Kathy Harrington and NC Representative John Torbett, this special legislation was approved and signed into law by Governor Pat McCrory in June 2013. This legislation requires that the City of Belmont hold a public hearing on the project and seek input from property owners along the rail corridor. It also requires that the City obtain easements from property

owners to allow the trail to be built within the rail corridor that crosses their property. Once easements are in place, the NCDOT and City will begin the project design and engineering. We hope the design process to take no longer than six months.

Upon receiving approval of the design, construction can begin. We hope to complete construction within one year.

For more information on this project, please contact Adrian Miller at 704-901-2067.

ROCKY BRANCH PARK Rocky Branch Park is a 40 acre mountain bike and hiking park located at the western end of Woodrow Avenue in downtown Belmont. It currently has 2.75 miles of single-track trail that are designed for mountain bikes, walking, and running. The plans for the park call for a total of 4-5 miles of trail, which are being built by the Belmont police department, the Tarheel Trailblazers, South Main Cycles, and community volunteers.

Parking for Rocky Branch Park is currently on street at the western end of Woodrow Avenue and the

southern end of Sacco Street.

To get to Rocky Branch Park, turn west onto Woodrow Avenue from Central Avenue or Main Street. The park will be at the end of the street, at the intersection with Sacco Street. The park is located 1/2 mile from the downtown business district, so you can park downtown and walk, run, or cycle to the park and then enjoy shopping and restaurants when you return.

Volunteers are needed to help extend trails at the park. Anyone who would like to get involved with the trail project can contact Doug Huffstetler at the Belmont Police Department at 704-8253792, or email him at dhuffstetler@belmontpolice.org. See the article in today's Gaston Gazette. Here's the link:

SEVEN OAKS PRESERVE TRAIL A beautiful new 2.8-mile segment of The Carolina Thread Trail is now open at the Seven Oaks Preserve near the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden at 6900 S. New Hope Road in Belmont, NC. This new natural surface trail will directly benefit community residents in Belmont and Lake Wylie, but is open to the general public to enjoy and explore.

The Downtown routes are centered around the three downtown parksDavis, Reid, and Stowe Parks. Please click on the image to the right for a printable version of the routes.

The East Belmont routes are centered around the commercial area of Catawba Street and Crescent Park. Please be careful when crossing Keener Boulevard, and only cross it at the intersections with stoplights. Remember to cross with traffic.

These walking route signs were part of an Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina grant that the Gaston County Health Department received in 2009 to promote physical activity and healthy eating in Belmont.

Please note that sidewalks are on most of the routes, but are missing on Lincoln and Sacco Streets, and on portions of North Main Street and Elizabeth Avenue. Please be careful when walking on or along streets, especially where there is no sidewalk.

BICYCLIST RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR DISABLED

The Seven Oaks Preserve, a 77acre permanently protected area conserved by Catawba Lands Conservancy and is adjacent to Lake Wylie in Gaston County and the new waterfront trail connects to The Garden’s Persimmon Trail.

The Seven Oaks Preserve Trail weaves through the preserve’s wooded area that serves as an important wildlife corridor and provides water quality protection for Lake Wylie.

WALKING ROUTES The City of Belmont and the Gaston County Health Department have partnered on signs to mark three walking routes in the Downtown and East Belmont area. These routes include a 1 mile route, 2 mile route, and 3 mile route. The routes are marked with signs at intersections where the routes turn.

Young men riding bicycles across the country to raise awareness and funds for those with disabilities rode onto the campus at Holy Angels in Belmont on July 25th for lunch and an afternoon of games, dancing and other interactions with residents. A Build America team, which is spending the summer on work projects for organizations like Holy Angels, also was on site for the occasion. The picnic shelter where the lunch was provided was built a few years ago by another Push America group.

C.C. DAWSON BRIDGE After being closed for replacement, the C.C. Dawson Bridge in Cramerton is now open to traffic. The new bridge accommodates larger vehicles, improves safety for motorists and increases the lifespan of the local transportation network in Gaston County.

The $4 million project removed, demolished and replaced the bridge over the South Fork River on Lakewood Road.

The previous bridge was built in 1950 and was considered structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. It required costly maintenance to remain functional and was built to design standards no longer in use.

NORTH CHARLOTTE ROWING CLUB

Belmont's new rowing club is offering "Learn To Row" courses for beginners in August. Rowing is a fun way to get a full body workout, burn calories, improve flexibility, reduce stress, meet new people and be part of a team. North Charlotte Rowing Club, a new member of the Chamber, now is located in the Riverside Complex in East Belmont.

Click on this link to download more information on the rowing courses: https://asoft3018.accrisoft.com/with/clie ntuploads/PDFs/Learn%20to%20Row%2 0Classes.pdf.

Go to the website www. northcharlotterowing.org or bit.ly/Row Sched3 to sign up under the Masters tab for Social/Open Rows at 6:00 pm on Wednesday evenings and 8:00 am on Saturday mornings. Youth, come row with the Masters (sign up on the same spreadsheet) any time you want over the summer, or put together a boat with your friends and contact Kristin Sherman kristindsherman@gmail.com to coordinate the date/time so adult supervision can be provided.

Submit your stories, photos and events at dscole@gobizwell.com

BELMONT NEIGHBORS

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When You

LIVE LOCAL in the

ECONOMY

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BELMONT NEIGHBORS

“Can we invite Cyndi Lauper over for dinner?” Ula asks.

Occasionally, my children’s dim understanding of reality surprises me. I am standing in the kitchen, searing pieces of beef before flicking them in the slow cooker to make a stew for Saturday at the market. She will be accompanying me, even though the forecast is for rain.

Ula valued the music as much as she valued her own labor.

Usually, she and her sister are happy to spend market days home on the farm with their grandparents, helping with chores, baking when the weather is foul, or swimming or fishing when the days are warm. But I have a suspicion that they have decided to pay more attention to market days this year. They are now in business for themselves. They have a babysitting business, a dog biscuit enterprise, and Ula is marketing her own line of greeting cards. They are pooling their funds in a vacation jar, which is already bursting with $1,300 from their efforts over the last eight months.

It is supposed to be my job to manage their sales at the farmers market. But when I came home the first week and had no greeting card or dog biscuit figures to report, I think they may have held a private shareholders’ meeting to discuss the problem. Ula, the ace saleswoman, has since decided to accompany me to help boost business. When babysitting gigs come up, Saoirse will hold down the fort, caring for their charge at the farm.

So I already feel as though I am on some sort of probation when Ula asks to invite Cyndi over for dinner. I don’t like repeatedly being a disappointment to my children.

“No,” I tell her flatly. “I’m not inviting Cyndi Lauper over for dinner.”

“Because the house is so messy?”

“Actually, we don’t know her.”

Occasionally, her mother’s dim understanding of reality surprises Ula. I see her shake her head to herself. She has no

response for me.

The next day at the market, business begins to pick up. Ula perches on a stool behind the booth, greeting people with a wide smile.

“Can I help you?” she asks.

“I was looking for some chopped meat,” one customer says.

“Well that’s over here.” She points to the spot in the booth where we display the ground beef. “But we also sell dog biscuits, and I made them myself.”

And she gets a sale.

Before noon, she’s sold two packs of greeting cards and her entire stock of dog biscuits. In light of her hard work (and in the interest of getting her out of my hair for a while), I let her take a little of her earnings and put it in her pocket. She charges out of the booth, ready to feed the local economy. I am busy selling pork roasts and chickens, so I don’t pay much attention.

The crowd is thick just after 12 o’clock. The rain must have led people to sleep in, and they are coming into the market later than usual. I barely notice the guitar player who has begun strumming down in the pavilion. One of my customers gestures down to the scene.

“Is that your daughter down there dancing?”

I don’t even look up. “Probably,” I say, keeping my attention focused on tallying sales. I’m grateful for the live music. It is the perfect distraction for my Ula. Otherwise, now that she’s sold out of product, she’ll keep pestering me to buy sweets.

A little while later, there is a break in the crush, and I am restocking the table. Ula comes running up to me.

“Mommy! Mommy! Did you hear the music down there? It’s great! I took all my money and I gave it to the other kids who were listening, so they could give it to the guitar player!”

Now she had my attention. “You did what?”

My girls regard musicians as part of our community and local economy, as a source for energy to dance through life.

“I gave it to the other kids.”

“You just gave it to kids you didn’t know?”

“Yeah. I gave it to them so they could pay the guitar player.” Another customer comes up to buy eggs.

“Ula! You can’t do that!” My voice is a sharp hiss, my eyes fierce with that “mom glare”—the one that is intended to restore order at times when I have to behave myself in front of the outside world.

Her eyes grow wide when she sees my disappointment in her. She stammers a bit. “I, I, I thought the kids should pay for the music.” I see little tears in the corners of her eyes. “I’m sorry, Mommy!”

I feel a sudden weight in my stomach. I am not handling this correctly. I’m not sure what to say. As is often the case, Ula has once more caught me off guard with unforeseen challenges to my parenting policy. I know I have done something wrong, but another customer is approaching and I have no time to think things through. At a total loss, I throw my arms around her and kiss her cheek, then whisper, “You are loving and generous. You are not a bad person.

We’ll talk about this later.”

I am thinking all the following week that I need to teach Ula more skills about controlling her impulses, about planning her spending, about understanding how hard she has worked for her dollars, and the importance of saving them. But I don’t find time to discuss it.

The next weekend, an accordion player, fiddler and saxophonist come to the market. Saoirse joins her

sister on the sales force. After they’ve moved sufficient product, I see both of them out on the lawn, twirling and twisting to the music. Knowing that I had a problem with her handing dollars over to perfect strangers, Ula tosses half her money into the accordion case. She hands the other half to Saoirse, who happily throws it in. This time, I say nothing.

This past week, my friend Lisa, a fellow homeschooling mom, comes for lunch. Our girls run and play outside, and somehow our mommy conversation turns to celebrity worship, our culture’s tendency to appoint rock stars, movie stars, and teen idols to incite infatuation among American youth … to get them to pine for the fame and fortune that will be allotted to so few.

“Saoirse and Ula have never really known about that,” I observe.

“There are lots of local musicians around, and they just know them.”

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“...they see them as ordinary, hard-working people, like everyone else.”

I gave it some more thought. “I mean, they love what they do, they love going out to hear them play. But they don’t think of them as demigods or anything.”

Lisa leans forward. “You mean, they see them as ordinary, hard-working people, like everyone else.”

Her comment stays with me throughout the day after she has left. My mind keeps flitting back to the scene on Ula’s first day at the farmers market. Ula had worked hard. She had made greeting cards. She had made dog biscuits. She had mustered her courage and talked to potential customers about her product. She had made sales. And down in the pavilion, there was a musican, bringing music to the market, filling our community space with joyful, dancing children.

That musician worked hard. For every three-minute song he played, he had to invest a lifetime in lessons and practice.

If Cyndi works hard to put out good music, shouldn’t she be rewarded with a home-cooked meal, straight from the farm?

In farm business accounting, we learn about calculating “return to labor.”

Farmers raise products, keep track of their costs, and, if they market their products directly to consumers, they determine their prices. Any profit is considered a “return to labor”—the actual payment we see for the time invested.

Depending on the enterprise, we see anywhere from $2 to $10 per hour.

And as a vociferous advocate for the rights of farmers to earn a fair wage,

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I never hesitate to share those shockingly low figures.

But what is the return to labor for ordinary, non-celebrity musicians? On that day at the market, did they make anything more for their efforts than the money my seven-year-old was sending into their cases?

My friend Lisa was right. Ula saw the musicians as hard-working people.

Just like herself. And she sent her cash, that representation of her own life energy, into their instrument cases. Ula valued the music as much as she valued her own labor. It was as important to her as any other locally made product on offer at that market.

Local music and arts—the documentation of the culture, history, and struggles in our own backyards—have tremendous value to my children. It celebrates their place in this world. It does not drive them to pine for stardom. Instead, it

brings them closer to home. And rather than seeing musicians as separate from themselves, Saoirse and Ula regard them as part of our community and our local economy, as a source for their energy to dance through life.

Thus, I suppose it is only natural for Ula to want to invite Cyndi Lauper over for dinner. It is true that we’ve never met her, and that we only have her albums, but since other musicians work hard and perform at the farmers market, at the library, in our local church hall, or out in the park, Cyndi must do the same, right? And if Cyndi works hard to put out good music, shouldn’t she be rewarded with a good home-cooked meal, straight from the farm? It only seems fair.

This week, in preparation for the market, I sit down with Ula and the money jar. I point to the wadded up bills pressing against the glass. “Ok, Ula. This money stays in the jar. It is your savings. But this,”

I pull out a stack of ones and count them into her hand, “is for the market.”

I have learned that I am not always the best arbiter of her pecuniary decisions. “Spend it on whatever you like.

When it’s gone, it is gone. But it is your choice. If you want to give it to kids to pay the musicians, that’s fine.”

“But you said I shouldn’t do that.”

“I was wrong. You were doing something important, and I didn’t understand.”

She smiles and jumps up and down with pleasure, relieved that my dim understanding has brightened somewhat.

I suppose it is only a matter of time before she broaches the subject of fixing supper for Cyndi once more. Because now, hopefully, I’ll understand her view on the matter. Every musician needs to eat. I

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Belmont is home to a diverse, vibrant and growing business community. The local business community continues to grow each day, offering residents and visitors more and more.

Shop local because we have many great local businesses that want to help you have a wonderful shopping experience. Do more than just shop Belmont. Invite your out of town friends and family to shop our community, and let's have a wonderful time here in Belmont!

SOUTH FORK VILLAGE APARTMENTS 1005 South Fork Village Drive Belmont, NC 28012 www.southwoodrealty.com/southforkvillage.htm South Fork Village features 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments. Features include granite countertops, washer/dryer connections, 9 ft ceilings, private patio, balcony or sunroom, extra storage and walk in closets. Community amenities include salt water swimming pool, clubhouse, grilling areas and so much more. Pets welcome.

For more information on South Fork Village Apartments, call Amber Robinson at 704-842-1463 or send email to: southfork@southwoodrealty.com

PRE-SCHOOL CONNECTION LEARNING ACADEMY 102 Glenway Street Belmont, NC 28012 704-829-8222 Preschool Connection Learning Academy BoastS Gaston County’s first Hatch Technology computer learning system. Angela Warren is owner-director of Preschool Connection in partnership with her parents David and Kathy Beaty. They opened the first Preschool Connection on Beaty Road in Mount Holly in 2001. The Belmont location formerly was part of the First Presbyterian Church. The 1942 building has been completely renovated and redesigned. Serving children age 2 years through fifth grade.

THE DENTAL BUSINESS 100 N. Main Street, Suite 205 Belmont, NC 28012 704-904-5070 www.thedentalbusiness.com The Dental Business consults with dental practices to help them become more efficient, productive and profitable. The Dental Business provides coaching calls, tips & strategies, unlimited access to resources such as downloadable forms, letter and monitors, Private Facebook Group, Members Only Question & Answer Forum and so much more!

BELMONT SODA FOUNTAIN 32 N. Main Street Belmont, NC 28012 704-829-8293 www.belmontsodafountain.com Months of hard work transformed the front of the old Belmont Drug Building at into a modern version of an old-fashioned soda shop, with the opening of Belmont Soda Fountain. Andy and Brandy Mercer opened the new business and plan to locate two other businesses they own -- Finial Homes and Blair Realty -- in the back of the building.

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To order, please call or visit: 704-884-2922 2609-5 S New Hope Rd. • Gastonia, NC 28056

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The IMPORTANCE of PLAY in a CHILD’S LIFE A

ll parents dream for a better career for their child’s life. Everybody wants their child to be doctor, engineer and wants to see them in high posts. In this cut throat competition children get pressurize with their activities to the extent that they don’t get spare time for their own entertainment. Teachers also keep the child busy during the holidays by giving them assignments and homework. Earlier children used to play with their siblings. So, the children easily got a play environment at the home.

However, now the time spent by children in playing was very less as compared to the past two decades. Parents should understand that play is an important activity and they should not deprive their child from this opportunity.

Play is the business of childhood, allowing your child free rein to experiment with the world around him and the emotional world inside him, says Linda Acredolo, professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis and coauthor of Baby Signs: How to Talk With Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk and Baby Minds: Brain-Building Games Your Baby Will Love. While it may look like mere child's play to you, there's a lot of work — problem solving, skill building, overcoming physical and mental challenges — going on behind the scenes.

It’s true that education is like a building block for a child’s future.

Group games allow children to learn the values of team spirit. It also teaches them to cooperate with other members of the team and develop self discipline. This also enables them to face negative situation in life and make them strong when they get defeated. Many studies have proved that children playing games which have lots of violence are likely to be more short tempered and aggressive.

It is the duty of the parents to find out whether the child knows the difference between fantasy and reality. When this problem is not uprooted in the initial stages then it can take very ugly turn in child’s life and they will start presuming that real life is also like the games which they play.

It will have a negative impact on children mind because inappropriate games will impart wrong set of values in them. Through play children develop essential life skills; they also learn how to interact with their BELMONT NEIGHBORS

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peers and adults. It is through play that children develop essential life skills; they learn how to interact with their peers and with adults.

14. Increases attention and attachment capacities

There are certain benefits that child get after playing.

These benefits are given below:

16. Decreases stress, fatigue, injury, and depression

1. Reduces fear, anxiety, stress, irritability 2. Creates joy, intimacy, self-esteem and mastery not based on other's loss of esteem 3. Improves emotional flexibility and openness 4. Increases calmness, resilience and adaptability and ability to deal with surprise and change 5. Decreases tactile defensiveness 6. Healing process for hurts 7. Enhances feelings of acceptance of difference 8. Increases empathy, compassion, and sharing 9. Creates options and choices 10. Models relationships based on inclusion rather than exclusion 11. Alternative to aggressor-victim model of relationships 12. Decreases revenge and need for self defense 13. Improves touch and nonverbal socialization skills

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15. Positive emotions increase the efficiency of immune, endocrine, and cardiovascular systems

17. Integrates sensor motor, kinesthetic and emotional responses It's helpful to allow your child to lead during play. Let your child determine what to do and how to do it within the limits of safety and time constraints. This lets them try out their judgment and allows them to show you what they’re delighted in."

Join in your child's play, but only when invited to do so. As they let you into their world of make-believe, give them complete control. In real life, you may be in charge, but this is their world.

The attention you show your child when you play together is key to building self-esteem. For example, when you pretend along with your childen, you're showing them that you accept their make-believe world, that something they are interested in is fun and important to you, too.

In conclusion every child should be allowed to play as they learn so many skills from playing, and from defeating. Play is essential for every child’s development as it make them well balanced grown up and prepare with all the essential life skills needed. I

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Schedules and times are subject to changes. Please call venues to confirm event information.

OCTOBER 4-31 Fall with a Flourish at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Enjoy a fun

OCTOBER 18 Belmont Fall Festival Enjoy a fun-filled day with arts and crafts, merchandise displays, food, and live entertainment at Stowe Park. The Belle of Belmont pageant is held for girls and boys ages 0-20. For more details, contact Belmont Parks & Recreation at 704-825-8191 or www.belmontparksandrec.com.

OCTOBER 25 Belmont Halloween Bash Come downtown and bring the family to enjoy carnival games, moon bounce, super slide, Zombie Run and so much more!

Make sure to stay for the costume contest. Event runs from 5:00pm-9:00pm and is free. For more details, contact Belmont Parks & Recreation at 704-8258191 or www.belmontparksandrec.com.

NOVEMBER 1-9 Fall with a Flourish at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Piles of pumpkins and mounds of mums will greet the visitor as Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden celebrates “Fall with a Flourish” beginning this October. Families can celebrate during the evening at Bug Ball, or enjoy the weekend at Bootanical which now features a unique botanical marketplace. Whatever your preference, make plans to visit the Garden at one of the most spectacular times of the year and celebrate “Fall with a Flourish.

For more information, visit: www.dsbg.org

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NOVEMBER 20-30 Holidays at the Garden The organic rhythms of nature and abundant fascinations come together to create a new holiday harmony this year at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Explore the special tapestry woven — a natural winter wonderland that’s like no other. The contemporary yet elegant lighting display will brighten your holidays and a fire put will keep you and your loved ones warm. See more at: www.dsbg.org

NOVEMBER 27 Run for the BCO (Belmont Community Organization) 5K An early 5k, a day of celebrating and being thankful for all of our blessings, and an oppertunity to help those less fortunate, sounds like a pretty good day to me! The WOD for Thanksgiving will be the Belmont Community Organization 5k. The event will start at Walk/Run in Belmont, with walkers beginning at 8:15am and runners at 8:30am.

The cost for the race is a donation to BCO, so give what you can. 100% of the proceeds go to BCO, so make your checks out to Belmont Community Organization. Cash donations will also be accepted.

NOVEMBER 29 Downtown Christmas Village in the Downtown District Come Celebrate Christmas!

Merriment and Cheer for the Whole Family! Enjoy carolers, apple cider and cookies as you stroll on Main St. visiting the unique stores along the way. In store specials, roast marshmallows in Stowe Park, music, food vendors, over $500 in drawings,

performances by "Gospel Way Quartet" and Mark Dickerson and Crew. Bring a can good for BCO or a toy for "Toys for Tots" to ride the horse drawn wagon or hay ride. Santa will be located at Belmont’s City Hall. Event is free to the public. 6:00 PM 9:00 PM. Call 704-825-8191 for further information.

DECEMBER 1-31 Holidays at the Garden The organic rhythms of nature and abundant fascinations come together to create a new holiday harmony this year at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. Explore the special tapestry woven — a natural winter wonderland that’s like no other. The contemporary yet elegant lighting display will brighten your holidays and a fire put will keep you and your loved ones warm. See more at: www.dsbg.org

DECEMBER 1 Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall Join us on the front lawn of City Hall for the annual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. We will have music and refreshments to being the Christmas season in downtown Belmont.

DECEMBER 2 Belmont Christmas Parade downtown The Christmas Parade is one of Belmont's greatest annual events, with thousands lining the streets to see the floats, bands and other entries. The Montcross Area Chamber coordinates the parade for the City of Belmont. For more info call 704-825-5307 ext. 2 Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

DECEMBER 6 Girls on the Run 5K in Stowe Park The City of Belmont is pleased to once again host the annual Girls on the Run 5k in Downtown Belmont. This year's run will be timed and will begin at 8:30 am.

Pre-race festivities and check-in begins at 7:00 am at Stowe Park. The starting line will be in front of the Belmont General Store this year. For safety reason, we ask that no one stand near the railroad tracks. If waiting to begin the race, please use Main Street, the gravel parking lot by South Point Pet Hospital, and Glenway Street until the race begins.The race will still finish at Stowe Park.

DECEMBER 6 Cookies & Cocoa with Santa at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Make sure you bring the camera to capture the moment when Santa Claus comes to town to enjoy cookies and cocoa with the kids.

Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm

DECEMBER 7 Holiday Tea at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Time: 3:00pm-4:30pm Celebrate the season with a tasting of tea. Savannah’s Tea Room of Fort Mill will offer a selection of teas paired with scrumptious snacks. Gift baskets and other tea-related items will also be for sale. The cost is $22 for members and $25 for non-members (the cost includes admission to evening festivities). Reservations are required, space is limited. To register for this event or for details call 704-829-1294.

Merriment and Cheer for the whole family in Downtown Belmont! Enjoy carolers and apple cider as you stroll on Main St. visiting the unique stores along the way. The local merchants abound with unique gifts and toys for everyone on your list including stocking stuffers.

Visit one of the local restaurants and enjoy dinner, appetizers or beverages. Santa will be between Second Fiddle and Wells Fargo for the children to enjoy and pose for a photo that will forever capture the memory of this experience. Bundle up with the family and enjoy a ride on Main St. in the horse drawn wagon and enjoy the festive storefront decorations. Horsedrawn Carriage Rides are $5 per person. Rides begin and end at Caravan Coffee. Tickets are available at the City of Belmont tent at Caravan Coffee. For more details call the City of Belmont at 704-825-5586

DECEMBER 13 Cookies & Cocoa with Santa at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Make sure you bring the camera to capture the moment when Santa Claus comes to town to enjoy cookies and cocoa with the kids.

Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm

DECEMBER 14 Holiday Tea at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Time: 3:00pm-4:30pm Celebrate the season with a tasting of tea. Savannah’s Tea Room of Fort Mill will offer a selection of teas paired with scrumptious snacks. Gift baskets and other tea-related items will also be for sale. The cost is $22 for members and $25 for non-members (the cost includes admission to evening festivities). Reservations are required, space is limited. To register for this event or for details call 704-829-1294.

DECEMBER 18 Santa’s Workshop at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm

Some very lucky children are going to get to visit with Santa before his big day! Participating children will make a special gift for someone special, decorate cookies and participate in a holiday sing-along. The cost is $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Reservations are required, space is limited. To register for this workshop or for more details call 704-829-1294.

DECEMBER 31 Sparkle in the NYE at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm The cost is members $20 and non-members $25 and you must register by December 20th. This fee includes admission to Holidays at the Garden festivities. Come and taste the Sparkle of the Season! Receive a commemorative flute, samples of sparkling wine and mini desserts. To register, call 704829-1252 or for more details on events at the Garden visit www.DSBG.org.

JANUARY 7 “The Tortoise and the Hare” This classic fairy tale is performed by professional puppeteers. Two performances are scheduled at the Weston Community Center, one at 1:30pm and another at 3pm.

The puppet show is free and best suited for children ages preK through second grade. For more information call (954) 3894321.

JANUARY 13 “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” Bring the blankets, lawn chairs and plenty of popcorn it’s time for Moonlight Movies in the Park. This funny flick follows two brothers and their parents’ misguided attempts to have them bond. This free, family event takes place at the Event Stage in the Weston Regional Park. The movie begins at 7:30pm.

If you have an event you would like place in a future magazine, please email information to: dscole@gobizwell.com

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DECEMBER 13 Downtown Christmas Village in the Downtown District

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BELMONT NEIGHBORS

There’s lots to like at Belmont Reserve The architecture embraces you. The trees offer shade. Blending luxury and comfort in an unmatched setting, BELMONT RESERVE offers great floor plans and are beautifully built.

Conveniently located within walking distance to downtown dining and shopping, this neighborhood is made up of 20 townhomes and 84 single-family attached homes.

Every home offers a single-car garage, all-brick exterior and enclosed courtyard. Interior amenities include 9-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, corian kitchen countertops, decorative moldings, solid core doors along with many other handsome details.

So come and tour this unique and inviting community.

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704-266-5080

WWW.BELMONTRESERVE.COM At the intersection of South Main Street and Eagle Road

PRESORTED STD US POSTAGE 1308 Lily Green Ct. NW Concord, NC 28027

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