Banner-News 6-30-22

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Gaston County’s

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Thursday, June 30, 2022

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July 4th News from a neighbor! Volume 88 • Issue 26

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• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley

Thursday, June 30, 2022

Belmont’s new skatepark open for business By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info

The new City of Belmont skatepark officially opened last Tuesday with a ribbon cutting event and skateboard enthusiasts wasted little time in checking out its jumps, bowl, ramps, and other features. Last Saturday saw even more action at the park with a grand opening celebration that featured music, food trucks, and swarms of skaters showing off their skills. The park is located next the CityWorks building on E. Catawba St. on what was formerly a vacant lot. Construction began in March and the work was done by L.A.-based Spohn Ranch. The firm travels across the country building skate parks. The idea for a skate park goes all the way back to 2005 after 13-year-old Trevor Gray was hit by a vehicle while he was skateboarding in East Belmont.

Gray died following the accident. Adding to the tragedy was the fact that the Belmont police officer, Byron Carpenter, who was heading for the scene, suffered a fatal heart attack. Further underscoring the need for a safe place that skateboarders in Belmont could do their thing was the 2018 death of Jay Simonds who was killed while he was skateboarding. Since then, several places that skateboarders could safely enjoy their sport were considered but finding the perfect one was problematic. Now, with most City of Belmont operations being housed at CityWorks at 1401 E. Catawba St. and extra land available being available there, a place for the $300,000 skate park project was carved out along the 13th St. side of the building. Belmont council member Martha Stowe was instrumental in making the park a reality. See SKATEPARK, Page 5

Skads of skaters have been trying out the new skatepark in Belmont.

YMCA lunch program delivering great food to great kids By Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info

“No kid should ever go hungry.” That’s the basic philosophy behind the YMCA Summer Feeding Program that delivers nutritious lunches to kids in several area apartment complexes in Mt. Holly and Belmont. Local stops include Holly Hills, Kendrick Square, and Flowers Court. Times are- Holly Hills, 11:45-12:45 on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Kendrick Square Mondays through Thursdays 11:45-12:45; Flowers Court Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:45-12:45. The lunch program began in 2014 with one lunch site at Catawba Heights Neighborhood Park serving 140 total meals. Each year this donorfunded program has grown to include new locations and volunteers all focused on serving youth meals who rely on free or reduced meals during the school year.

Face painting was part of the Juneteenth fun.

Kids at Holly Hills Apartments in Mt. Holly getting set to enjoy their YMCA provided lunch. During the COVID closure of 2020 the Y served from March - August expanding to include locations in Mt. Holly, Belmont, Stanley, and Gastonia serving both youth and seniors the

Y was able to serve 33,701 meals. The lunches are prepared by Gaston Schools cafeterias and meets those nutritional standards. Lunch at Holly Hills last Wednesday con-

sisted of an apple, chocolate milk, and a luscious looking fruit parfait. “We continue to work closely with Gaston County School Nutrition who assist See YMCA, Page 4

Belmont’s Juneteenth event was a big success By Delta Sanders There was not a more perfect day than June 18, 2022, for the Belmont Juneteenth Celebration to return to Stowe Park. Lower temperatures, complemented by the shade trees of Stowe, made

the day comfortable for celebrating. The opening ceremony included an interpretive dance to “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” performed by Keeisha Law of Belmont Parks and See JUNTEENTH, Page 3

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