Why is It ?

Gaston County is a very interesting county. We DO love it for all of its quirks, foibles, and life. That is why we chose to live here. Some have returned, some have never left, and some discovered this little jewel of a region-within-a-region.

 Why is then, that each of the 13 organized and incorporated towns have to:

a) copy each other and duplicate a service, project, or program?

b) have competition, spurred on by local media, to be the “best of…” whatever?

   

The Belmont Front Porch commented on a Gazette article about Belmont being the most walkable community in the county.

Yet, the picture on the front page of the Gastonia Gazette didn’t even feature local people. One was visiting from California, one had just recently (we’re talking a couple of months) relocated here (so, yeah she is local - give ya’ that one), and one was visiting from somewhere else. Anyway,

Each town has its own police department, parade, festivals, sports leagues, even things like fund-raising walks/runs. Recent (albeit, good) stuff has included the trendy things like street “dances/concerts” in the summer.

These copycat ideas go back to the mill village days, where every village had its own everything.  

So, what makes Belmont special in its own way?

Can’t be the revival of the miniature train - Gastonia’s already done that.

Could it be our “central park”? Stowe Park, is definitely unique to the towns and bergs of Gaston County.

Could it be our sports teams? Not really, each town had its own high school(s) back in the day (before 1969). Those allegiances carry over today as evidenced by last night’s football contest in Dallas (North Gaston HS).

Mt. Holly has a historical society, so does Belmont now. Belmont has a thriving downtown, Mt. Holly is moving in that direction somewhat painfully. Gastonia tries, but Gas-town has its own issues — like a major federal road through the downtown area and a recently constructed “ditch” for the railroad in town.  

Every town has fireworks in the summer. Every town is striving to revive its swimming pool. McAdenville, Cramerton, Bessemer City, Cherryville, and Gastonia have all renovated the outdoor facilities in the past 5 years.

So, rather than feeling like we gotta keep up with the Joneses (or in Gaston County - the Stowes, Linebergers, Beams, and Rhynes), why don’t we cooperate on some of these things?

Every new idea is rife with in-fighting. Some of the recent examples are the horse ring, the senior center, the visitor’s center – still have a hard time figuring that one out –, and restaurants and hotels. Not much that some towns can do about certain business decisions though.

Even our current city council elections are offering more of the same - wistful rememberances of days growing up in town, and the standard fare of roads, taxes, schools, and growth. The other towns are doing the same thing. 

Why is that?

  

Sports Commentators

Several of us over here in Belmont participate in and watch a lot of sports. We mean A LOT.

Not really experts in any of them, several favorites, though. A couple are huge football fans – peewee, high school, college, and pro. Panther ticket holders, State ticket holders, and (eeewww), Carolina ticket holders. The baseball fans range from the AL East to the NL West… the teams we like go on and on.

HD television has really made an impact on all the viewing entertainment over the past few years. However the announcing and commentary has really declined as the visual images have improved.

Frank DeFord, a noted sports columnist with Sports Illustrated, recently submitted a report on NPR’s “Morning Edition” (Wednesday, October 3) where he talks about too many voices in the booth.

We agree, sometimes the game/competition speaks for itself.

To continue on with the too many voices theme, WCGC, 1270 AM bills itself as the “Flagship Station for Red Raider Football”, uh, “yeap”.

We think it is a great service for the community and all, but, come on. Guys do you ever listen to yourselves?

Charlie Martin and “the other guy” are the local commentators.

Excerpts from a couple of recent games –

Charlie: Looks like the Red Raiders have a first down.

Other guy: yeap

Charlie: Lowery needs to throw the ball, it looks like Devine is sending in a pass play

other guy: yeap

Charlie: Lowery under center, he drops back, and runs up the middle. Guess it wasn’t a pass play

Other guy: yeap

other guy: first and…

Charlie: first and ten on the Red Raider 20

other guy: yeap

Two hours of this stuff  can get old. Maybe that’s why there are so many people in the stands at SP football games.  

“uh, yeap”.

Guys, do an air-check tape, and at least listen to each other from time to time. We really appreciate the broadcasts, but the personalities don’t mesh when hollerin’ in the microphone.

Coffee Break

Ahh, yes, about half of the editiorial board are not that all knowledgeable about coffee. We all know that we like it.

In Belmont, Nichols, Caravan, White’s, Jerry’s, Shirley’s, McDonald’s, and Hardees are good places for a cup or two, and conversation.

The Belmont Police hang out at Nichols. A lot of business people catch up and read papers early in the AM at McDonald’s, moms and preschool-age kids seem to have playdates there as well. People on the go, and those who have a bit less to do in the AM wander into Caravan. The high school students cruise through Jerry’s; and White’s, Hardees, and Shirley’s seem to have the senior crowd pretty much wrapped up.

You have seen us hanging out at Caravan, McDonald’s, and White’s just in the past few days.

We sure do like our coffee - even the plain old “large cup” kind…