Even though the concept is old news ’round here, when the Gazette picks it up, it must be important.
We think this is a great reuse of the inactive mills, it helps from a destination place viewpoint, and it keeps the Discovery Place program in the forefront of children’s programming.
Our wholehearted endorsement of this program is just a few small voices applauding the formation and planning process.
With homes in the former Chronicle Mill village converted to private ownership, and the lack of significant parking, what are the plans to move cars, and the many school busses and day care busses through the neighborhood?
This will certainly be a challenge to Mayor Richard Boyce’s vision of “Neighborhood Preservation’ as expressed in the recently passed Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
We would assume the RL Stowe Fiber Lab will be eliminated for the parking needs, but that begs the question about the Belmont Parks and Rec department onetime eye on the land next to the new police station. Members of council had shared an interest several years ago in this land for a Recreation Center when the police station was under construction. Now that the Parks Bond has passed, maybe they have backed off on that idea?
The program of regionalizing the Discovery Place for children in the lower elementary grades is a workable concept. Already in the design phase, a similar regional Discovery Place Kids will be located in Huntersville. As many as five regional prgrams could be established. Kinda wonder what would happen to the Schiele Museum over in Gastonia. The city’s museum is struggling financially and the current city manager has put pressure on all the department heads to lower city-funded operating losses.
Could Discovery Place Kids be the Wal-mart of children’s museum programming?
Good Luck with this project, we hope it works out for the best for everyone.
June 2, 2008
South Point made an exciting statement last night in the first game of a 3 game series to determine a state finalist in 3A baseball.
A 1-0 victory over a previously undefeated West Rowan pitcher and a No-Hitter by local standout Zach Horne, put SP in the driver’s seat to advance in this tournament.
(Gazette Photo)
The Gazette account of the game is pretty accurate.
Sophomore Wes Lawing, the hero of the R.S. Central game the other day, provided the scoring heroics again last night. His eighth-inning bloop single scored Jordan Edgerton who sprinted in from third base. But the real hero was Horne’s pitching performance.
Horne struck out 10 batters, and allowed only one runner to progress, and that was on a fielding error in the top of the 8th inning. For the most part, SP had come to play, they just couldn’t score off the 6 or 7 hits that they made through the game.
The next game is tonight at West Rowan, where the opposition has several tough undefeated pitchers waiting to face the Raider bats. Depending on that outcome, a third game will be played on Saturday night at South Point or the Raiders advance with a win tonight.
Go Red Raiders!
May 23, 2008
Grier middle school used consecutive “shots from the mark” situations to win the Girls MS Soccer Championship this week over Cramerton.
Grier needed to get past Belmont last Thursday to play in the championship match. They progressed after outlasting Belmont through 70 minutes of a scoreless draw and winning 2-1 in “shots from the mark” ( commonly called, “PK shootout”). Neither team had many opportunities in regulation and the overtime periods. Both coach Wydo of Grier, and coach Barnhardt of Belmont looked to bulking up their defenses using Shannon Kay of Grier, and Molly Fisher of Belmont as center backs or sweepers to keep out the opposition. The resulting progession to shots allowed Grier to progress after the girls figured out how to look for corners in those big goals.
A similar scenario greeted the Grier Knights as they played Cramerton for the championship. After a 1-1 regulation match and no score in overtime, Pk’s once again forced a result.
Congratulations, we at the Front Porch are looking forward to the next year of soccer in the Gaston County area. There will be many exciting youngesters joining the high school programs, and the continued growth of the sport in this area is developing many more players and fans.
May 22, 2008
