Adrian Miller, a planner with the City of Belmont, forwarded names to city council for a newly formed “Tree Board”. Three community members, Carolyn Sly, Chad Hutcheson, and Renee Shook, were appointed by council to serve as a committee to oversee city planning ordinances regarding plantings and the overall look of Belmont.
We applaude the appointment of these community-minded folks to the board. As mayor Richard Boyce noted, “…We have these rules in place, but no effective way of monitoring or enforcing the regulations…”. He continued, “…this board will be a good step in the right direction…”.
It is hoped that the City will gain opportunities for grant funding and achieve a Tree City USA designation over time. This board is one of the first steps to achieve this goal.
Thumbs up for a proactive council and visionary planning!
July 8, 2008
The first of four concerts in the park was held this past Saturday evening, with the Center City Groove band, entertaining a relatively sparse crowd based on past history.
The Center City Groove is a 5 piece cover band, doing music from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Of course, the obligatory “Electric Slide” too.
The band did an OK job, nothing really special - have we become “concerted-out” here in Belmont, or is it all becoming too generic?
The lead singer, ‘Hollywood’, had his mic turned up to the point of distortion. They needed a sound tech or at least someone helping to adjust the loudness. He was a good singer, a bit full of himself, but aren’t all entertainers?
The lead guitar was excellent, his bluesy style and the few solos went over well with the crowd on the hill.
Even with the heat, it seemed to cool off quite a bit when the sun slipped below the treeline. The new program staffer, “Reba” from the Parks and Recreation Department plugged the new concession stand and the ice cream. Must have worked because a lot of people were seen with cones and slushies all evening.
The next concert in the park is next Saturday evening at 7:00 PM. Hopefully, it won’t be quite as hot. The Charlotte Civic Orchestra will be the entertainment.
June 9, 2008
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
