VISIT IMAGESGASTONCOUNTY.COM FOR EVEN MORE COMMUNITY INFORMATION
IMAGES O F G A S T O N C O U N T Y, N O R T H C A R O L I N A
PADDLE POWER National Whitewater Center offers world-class recreation
HOP ON A HOG Harley store provides sales … and lessons
HO-HO HOMETOWN McAdenville earns its title as Christmas Town USA
SPONSORED BY THE GA S TON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • 2007
R E A D M O R E ON L I N E
IMAGESGASTONCOUNTY.com EDUCAT ION AND SCHOOL L I S T ING S Check out school districts, universities and colleges in the Gaston area. >Read More
GARDENING How does your garden grow? Get the dirt on regional gardening. >Read More
FOOD What’s cookin’? Get a taste of regional cuisine. >Read More
REALTOR.COM Search for a new home, get moving tips and more at the National Association of Realtors’ Web site. >Read More
The one source for all your office furnishing needs. Seating
Conference
Storage
THE WEATHER Check on current conditions and get the local forecast. >IMAGESGASTONCOUNTY.COM
A B O U T T HI S M AG A Z IN E I M A G E S
O F
Gaston County 2007 EDITION, VOLUME 1
Images of Gaston County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by the Gaston Chamber of Commerce. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Gaston County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.
“Find the good – and praise it.” – Alex Haley (1921-1992), co-founder
jnlcom.com
GASTON COUNTY
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Celebrating 50 Combined Years of Buying and Selling Homes in Gaston County!
The Katherine Currence Team Donna Foster Katherine Currence Megan Triplett 704.861.2469
katherine.currence@atcmail.com katherinecurrence.com
Live Here ... Work Here ... Play Here
I M A G E S
O F
Gaston County
TABLE OF CONTENT S
2007 EDITION, VOLUME 1
SENIOR EDITOR DI A NE B A R T L E Y COPY EDITOR J O Y C E C A RU T HE R S
Features
ASSOCIATE EDITORS L I S A B AT T L E S, S U S A N C H A P P E L L STAFF WRITERS R E BE C C A D E N T O N, K E V I N L I T W I N, JE S S IC A MOZ O EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JE S S Y YA N C E Y DIRECTORIES EDITORS C A R O L C O WA N, A M A NDA K I N G, KRIST Y WISE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS S A ND Y C A MP BE L L , J I M E L L IO T T, S H A R O N H. F I T Z GE R A L D, L AU R A HIL L , K E L L I L E V E Y, DA N M A R K H A M AD PROJECT MANAGER C L AY B A NK S
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ADVERTISING SALES ASSISTANT S A R A S A R T I N CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER G R E G E ME N S STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS W E S A L D R I D GE , A N T O N Y B O S HIE R , M IC H A E L W. BU N C H, I A N C U R C IO, BR I A N M C C O R D CREATIVE DIRECTOR K E I T H H A R R I S WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR S H AW N DA N I E L PRODUCTION DIRECTOR N ATA S H A L O R E N S ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR C HR I S T I N A C A R D E N PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR H A Z E L R I S NE R SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGER TA DA R A S M I T H SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS C A NDAC E C O C K R E L L , AMANDA M C ALL I S TER, KR I S SE X TON, L AUR A TAYLOR LEAD DESIGNER C A NDIC E HUL SE Y GRAPHIC DESIGN A M Y NE L S O N, BR I T TANY SCHLE ICHER, V IK K I W IL L I A M S
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WEB PRODUCTION J I L L T O W N S E ND DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER A L I S O N HU N T E R AD TRAFFIC M I ND Y A R B O U R , S A R A H M IL L E R , PAT R IC I A M OI S A N, J IL L W YAT T
HO - HO HOME TOWN Christmas Town USA starts gearing up for the holiday season long before December. PADDLE P OWER Athletes are flocking to the worldclass facilities at the new U.S. National Whitewater Center. ONE M AN ’ S L EG AC Y Bud Schiele’s taxidermy collection launched an impressive museum complex in Gastonia. HOP ON A HOG Carolina Harley-Davidson Buell offers the machine – and the lessons.
CHAIRMAN G R E G T HU R M A N PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER B O B S C H WA R T Z M A N EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT R AY L A N GE N SENIOR V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JE F F HE E F N E R
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SENIOR V.P./SALES C A R L A HE N R Y V.P./SALES HE R B H A R P E R V.P./VISUAL CONTENT M A R K F O R E S T E R V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING S Y BIL S T E WA R T V.P./PRODUCTION C A S E Y E . HE S T E R EXECUTIVE EDITOR T E R E E C A RU T HE R S
Departments
MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS M AU R IC E F L IE S S CONTROLLER C HR I S D UD L E Y ACCOUNTING M O R I A H D O MB Y, DI A N A GU Z M A N, M A R I A M C FA R L A ND, L I S A O W E N S, S H A N N O N R IG S B Y
4 | AL M ANAC
MARKETING MANAGER T R AC Y R O GE R S RETAIL PRODUCTS MANAGER B R YA N C HI N E L L A
20 | P O R T F OL IO
DIRECTOR OF RECRUITING S U Z Y WA L D R IP DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR G A R Y S M I T H IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR M AT T L O C K E
26 | IM AG E G ALLERY
IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN R YA N S W E E N E Y HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER P E G G Y B L A K E
35 | ED UC AT ION
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT N IC O L E W IL L I A M S CLIENT & SALES SERVICES MANAGER/CUSTOM MAGAZINES PAT T I C O R NE L I U S
Images of Gaston County is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Gaston Chamber of Commerce and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com. F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , C O N TA C T:
Gaston Chamber of Commerce 601 W. Franklin Blvd. • Gastonia, NC 28052 (704) 864-2621 • Fax: (704) 854-8723 gastonchamber.com VISIT IMAGES OF GASTON COUNTY ONLINE AT IMAGESGASTONCOUNTY.COM
©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc., 361 Mallory Station Road, Ste. 102, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Magazine Publishers of America Member Member
Custom Publishing Council
Member Gaston Chamber of Commerce
On the Cover P H O T O B Y B R I A N M C O R D Christmas Lights in McAdenville
36 | A R T S/C ULT UR E 39 | HE ALT H/ W ELL NE S S 43 | S P OR T S/R ECR E AT ION
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45 | COMMUNI T Y PROF IL E
GASTON COUNTY BUSINESS BAGGING UP R E S ULT S . . . . . . . 28 A partnership between the chamber and county helps Gaston County reinvent its economy. BIZ BRIEFS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
ECONOMIC PROFILE
. . . . . . . . . . 32
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The Fabric of Our Lives It figures that a museum of history should be based in an old building. The Gaston County Museum of Art & History in Dallas is located on West Main Street in the former Hoffman Hotel, which dates back to 1852. The 44-room building has been utilized as a museum since a dedication ceremony on New Year’s Eve in 1979. Today it features a Carolinas Textile Exhibit, a Stowe Carriage House display and 5,000 artifacts related to Gaston County and North Carolina. It also has more than 450,000 historic documents and photographs on site. The museum also has a Civil War Letters exhibit online, available for viewing at gastoncountymuseum.org.
Things You Should Know Gaston
County is only 80 miles from the mountains and 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean – an ideal location for vacations and weekend getaways. Charlotte
Douglas International Airport is easy to access – it’s only 10 minutes from Gastonia via I-85.
The
McAdenville Mill, built in 1883, was among the first in the nation to use electric lights. Thomas Edison himself oversaw the installation of the generator and lights, and people came from miles at night to see the glowing lights.
Gaston
County has the seventhlargest school system in the state, serving more than 30,000 students.
Three
of North Carolina’s five interstate highways run through or are minutes away from Gaston County: Interstates 40, 85 and 77.
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Tiptoe Through the Tulips For a day of tranquility, visit Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. The 450 acres of landscaped beauty date back to 1989 when retired textile executive Daniel J. Stowe established a foundation to develop the garden in Belmont. He set aside the property, site work began in 1995, and the first gardens opened to the public in 1999. By the time of his death in July 2006, Stowe had designed a 40year plan for the acreage; a huge orchid conservatory is the next step in its overall development. Currently on site are a visitor’s pavilion, 12 fountains, a woodland trail and nine separate gardens – with names such as Conifer, Canal and Four Seasons.
GASTON COUNTY
Sounds Fishy What is a fish camp? You’ll see signs for fish camps throughout Gaston County, and newcomers might be confused at first. But stop by and you’ll discover that a fish camp is simply a restaurant where large servings of fried fish are served – a popular dining tradition in North Carolina’s Piedmont. One popular fish camp is Twin Tops in Gastonia, with a dining room as big as a bowling alley and rows and rows of deep-fat fryers. Customers are served huge portions of the freshest fish, any way they want it served. Other fish camps in the region include South Fork Fish Camp in Dallas and Stowe’s Fish Camp in Gastonia.
Ready to Celebrate? If you can’t find a festival in Gaston County, you just aren’t looking hard enough. Festivals take place in just about every town, just about every month of the year. They include the Garibaldi Fest in Belmont, Spring Fest in Mount Holly, Down Home Day in Bessemer City and Country Fest in Stanley. There are also events like Cotton Ginning Days, the Catawba Indian Festival, Piedmont Heritage Festival and the Yule Log Parade in McAdenville.
GASTON COUNTY At A Glance P O P UL AT ION (2005 estimate) Gaston County: 196,137 Gastonia (county seat): 68,964
L O C AT IO N Gaston County is just west of Charlotte, in the Southern Piedmont area of North Carolina. Its 15 municipalities are Belmont, Bessemer City, Cherryville, Cramerton, Dallas, Dellview, Gastonia, High Shoals, Kings Mountain, Lowell, McAdenville, Mount Holly, Ranlo, Spencer Mountain and Stanley.
BEG INNING S The county was officially founded on Dec. 21, 1846, from a lower portion of Lincoln County. It was named after William Gaston (1778-1844), a member of Congress and North Carolina Supreme Court judge.
F O R MO R E INF O R M AT IO N Gaston County Chamber of Commerce 601 W. Franklin Blvd. Gastonia, NC 28053 (704) 864-2621 • Fax: (704) 854-8723 gastonchamber.com
GASTON COUNTY
Gaston County
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Not Camera Shy Photogenic Gaston County has definitely caught the eye of TV and movie crews. Its close proximity to Charlotte (and its international airport) as well as four distinct seasons of weather have built the county into a filmmaker’s destination. Two recent Gaston County projects include Shallow Hal, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, starring Will Ferrell. Other endeavors include CBS miniseries such as Shake, Rattle & Roll and The Last Brickmaker, as well as recent movie projects filmed partly in Gaston County – Body Count, Saint Maybe, The Rage: Carrie II and Having Our Say.
Hold the Mustard Had an ostrich sandwich lately – maybe with a side order of emu? Oakridge Farm near Gastonia raises ostriches and emus for the meat, oil, feathers and hides. Farm tours are available by appointment between May and October, and products are sold every Saturday at the Charlotte Farmers Market. Some of the Oakridge specialty products include emu hot dogs and ostrich dog biscuits; you’ll even find hand-painted ostrich eggshells. By the way, ostrich and emu meat are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
Almanac Bears Playing Baseball The Gastonia Grizzlies are a hit in Gaston County. In 2007, the Grizzlies will enter their sixth season in the Coastal Plain League, a wooden-bat summer collegiate league with 15 teams in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The season runs from the end of May through early August, with a total of 28 home games and 28 away. The Grizzlies play their home games in Sims Legion Park, a 3,000-seat stadium that also plays host to American Legion baseball. Fun Things To Do Order an extra-thick chocolate milkshake from Tony’s Ice Cream, a beloved fixture in the county since 1947. Take time to relax and think at the grotto on the grounds of Belmont Abbey College. Let the kids enjoy an afternoon of outdoor fun at the playground in 58-acre Martha Rivers Park. Shop
for fresh veggies at the downtown Gastonia Farmers Market, open April-November.
Listen
to a Pops in the Park concert at Gaston County Park in Dallas.
Enjoy
live theater at the Little Theatre of Gastonia. By the way, Belmont and Cherryville also have community theater groups.
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Happy
WE S ALDRIDGE
McAdenville’s lake is a favorite spot for viewing the town’s Christmas lights and illuminated fountain. B R I A N M c C O R D
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GASTON COUNTY
Holidays! Chr is t ma s Tow n USA shares t he ma g ic of the s ea s on S TORY BY
E
ven Ebenezer Scrooge would be overcome by the Christmas spirit in the tiny town of McAdenville. Nicknamed Christmas Town USA, McAdenville starts gearing up for the holiday season long before December. The quiet textile town’s 700 residents begin bubbling with excitement and planning their decorating strategies GASTON COUNTY
Jessica Mozo
in early August, and on Dec. 1, like clockwork, McAdenville is transformed into a winter wonderland. More than 375 trees glow with twinkling lights, at least 200 wreaths adorn lampposts throughout the town and virtually every home is lovingly decorated. “It’s really rare to see a house or a tree not decorated in McAdenville
in December – practically everyone participates,” says Mel Collins, director of industrial relations for Pharr Yarns, the longtime McAdenville company that voluntarily foots most of the electric bills for the town’s Christmas lights. “If there’s a vacant house, or if somebody relocates during or just prior to the Christmas season, people from IMAGE SGA S TONCOUNT Y.COM
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city coffers to McAdenville citizens. “It’s part of our town’s history,” says Mayor Jerry Helton. “In 1956, the McAdenville Men’s Club decorated a few trees in town. They caught the eye of Mr. W.J. Pharr at Pharr Yarns, and he had several more decorated. And it just grew from there.” A favorite viewing spot for the town’s decorations is a lake near the center of McAdenville, where more than 30 lighted trees encircling the lake are reflected in the water. A lighted fountain in the center of the lake shoots water 75 feet into the air and fades from red to green to blue to amber. Life-size displays of the nativity scene and carolers are also Christmas Town traditions, and chrono-chime bells at the McAdenville Community Center play Christmas carols all season. “McAdenville just takes on a totally different atmosphere as soon as the lights go on,” Helton says. “It’s so beautiful – it’s like going to Disney World.” The celebration kicks off on Dec. 1 with a lighting ceremony at the McAdenville Community Center, when a student from McAdenville Elementary School is selected to flip the big switch that illuminates the town. In midDecember, the town holds its annual Yule Log Parade with a yule log pulled
up Main Street and lit, a band playing Christmas carols and refreshments. Even new residents of McAdenville embrace the Christmas Town tradition. Charlotte builder Saussy Burbank is constructing 189 new homes on 63 acres in McAdenville, and the homes are being designed to complement the existing style and history of the town. “New homes along Wesleyan Drive will be required by community covenants to be decorated with red, green and white Christmas lights,” says Allen St. Clair, sales consultant for Saussy Burbank. Pharr Yarns, the company that sponsors the town’s lights, has been operating in McAdenville since 1939 and is one of the area’s largest employers. Yarns manufactured by Pharr are sold throughout North America, Europe and Asia for use in products ranging from military applications to aerospace and high performance apparel. Pharr Yarns’ participation in Christmas Town is a gift to the community. The owners are just the type of people who want to give, Collins says. But it’s not just them; it’s the entire town. “Other places, people might be saying, ‘Bah-humbug, there’s so much traffic that I can’t get out of my driveway.’ But not in McAdenville. Our nickname is ‘Christmas Town USA,’ and we take that to heart.”
PHOTOS BY BRIAN McCORD
the community volunteer to decorate those homes, too. There’s really a spirit of Christmas here.” Christmas in McAdenville is so spectacular that it has been featured on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” HGTV’s 2000 Christmas special “Christmas Across America,” Pat Robertson’s “700 Club” and cable news network MSNBC. Spectators come from near and far to drive through the town and gawk at its impressive yet tasteful light displays. “There’s a 1-mile route through town, and from Dec. 1 to Dec. 26, we welcome more than 600,000 visitors to McAdenville,” Collins says. “I live right on Main Street, and you can hear people walking down the street spontaneously launching into Christmas carols. People wave and say, ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Happy Holidays.’ “And what’s so great is that it’s never commercialized – no one’s trying to sell anything. It’s off limits to try to profit from it.” The Christmas lights do, however, have a significant economic impact on Gaston County. Spectators who come to see McAdenville’s lights spend an estimated $11.8 million on food, gas and shopping in the area every year. But the 50-year tradition means much more than extra dollars in the
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GASTON COUNTY
PHOTOS BY WES ALDRIDGE
Whether big or small, old or new, nearly every home in McAdenville (population 680) reflects the spirit of the season. GASTON COUNTY
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Paddle
Power U. S. Nat ion a l W h itewater Cent e r br i n g s wor ld- cl a s s r ec r e a t ion opt ion s
S TORY BY
A
Laura Hill
✦ PHOTOGR APHY BY
ttention couch potatoes: Forget the treadmill, rowing machine and stair-stepper. You can actually have fun while you exercise – just ask the folks at the new U.S. National Whitewater Center. Opened in August 2006, the center is home to USA Kayak and Canoe, the official governing body for competitive whitewater kayakers and canoers, and increasingly it’s causing those athletes to relocate to the area. It’s also an official U.S. Olympic Training Site and will host national and international championships and trials. It’s home to the world’s only recirculating, multichannel whitewater river. But the $37 million facility’s major goal is to get us non-
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Wes Aldridge
Olympians out there in the fresh air, having a good time while we’re getting fit. “We’ve already booked several international championships in the next two years, but what we’re really about is getting outdoors and having a healthy lifestyle,” says co-founder and executive director Jeff Wise. “We think exercise shouldn’t be about putting on your workout clothes and walking on a treadmill. It’s about getting out there and acting like a 5-year-old.” Rafting, kayaking and canoeing are great ways to do just that. The USNWC offers class III and IV whitewater rapids for the adventurous, as well as flat-water canoeing and kayaking. About 12 million gallons of water are pumped through its GASTON COUNTY
Competitive kayakers find a year-round training ground at the new U.S. National Whitewater Center. GASTON COUNTY
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river’s four channels, from an upper pool, down 21 feet to a lower pool. The intensity of the flow can be customized to suit Olympians or weekend warriors, and paddlers are ferried to the top of the course via a conveyor belt. Prefer to stay dry? The center’s 308 acres, tucked along the banks of the Catawba River, offer the largest outdoor climbing facility in the country – the big outdoor spike reaches 47 feet – as well as a boulder garden and 11 miles of excellent mountain biking, hiking and running trails. Founded by a group of entrepreneurs and enthusiasts from the Charlotte area, the center has already met with considerable success from locals and tourists alike because it fills a growing need, according to Wise. “We have less and less time, and people are trying to figure out how to actively enjoy that free time,” he says. “We have engineered activity out of our lifestyle, but our bodies and our minds are telling us to not just sit there. People want to become more active and stay engaged.” The center, he believes, will be a boon to the area around the park, even cities across the county border, a view that
Gastonia Mayor Jenny Stutz shares. “It’s very exciting for us and unprecedented in that Gaston County and Gastonia pledged their financial support if it was needed,” she says. “We certainly see an economic impact. “Those people traveling from the south to the park present us with a perfect opportunity to attract them to stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants and shop locally.”
Whitewater enthusiasts can ride rapids any season of the year, with the flow adjustable to fit individual skill levels. Inset: Those who prefer to stay dry can enjoy the largest outdoor climbing facility in the country. GASTON COUNTY
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One
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Man’s
GASTON COUNTY
Legacy B u d S c h ie l e w o u l d b e proud of all he s t ar ted
Kelli Levey PHO TOGR APH Y BY Brian McCord S TORY BY
A
s a teen, Bud Schiele envisioned owning his own nature sanctuary, and as a young man, he worked as an apprentice curator at the Philadelphia Commercial Museum. Later, Schiele began what became a long career with the Boy Scouts of America, studying taxidermy along the way and developing an outstanding collection of wellpreserved mounted animals. Today, thanks to his foresight and generosity, that collection forms the heart of an impressive museum complex proudly bearing his name. In 1961, at the age of 67, Schiele donated his collection – from massive bison to tiny birds – to his community. But the Schiele Museum of National History has grown into much more. Its 16-acre campus now includes the James H. Lynn Planetarium, a Catawba Indian Village that interprets 400 years of history and an 18th-century backcountry farm that offers living history presentations in a period setting complete with herb garden and appropriate livestock. Also on the grounds, a nature trail traverses nearly three-quarters of a mile, and a Stone Age Heritage Site depicts outdoor settings common to early man. Permanent displays provide the backbone of the museum, while short-term featured exhibits like “Birds,” “Barrier Island Ecology” and “Buffalo Nation” set the stage for deeper exploration. Mastodons and dinosaurs inhabit the permanent Hall of Earth and Man, while a massive bear and bison highlight the Hall of North American Wildlife. Other permanent exhibits explore North American habitats, the North American Indian and North Carolina’s natural history. Thousands of people visit the Schiele
Today, the Schiele – as it’s fondly called by locals – is home to all manner of wild things, including this T. rex. GASTON COUNTY
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each year, but marketing director Mary Alice Rogers says that locals sometimes overlook it. “There are millions of years of history wrapped up in this place. And we have some wonderful pieces – about 90 percent of the collection – that are not even on the floor because of space constraints,” she says, adding that the affiliation with the Smithsonian provides access to its pieces for the Schiele’s exhibits as well. “This is one of those places that you say, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s always there,’ but it really is worth anyone’s while to explore. We’ve got a diamond right here in our community.” The museum and planetarium are open throughout the week, with the planetarium closed Mondays. Museum tours take up to two hours, and the space shows, featuring multimedia projectors and special effects, last about 45 minutes. The farm and Native American village are open almost exclusively on weekends. Inside, the Schiele Museum Store is a source of take-home trinkets, where books and toys provide an education cloaked in fun. SEE MORE Read more about the Schiele ONLINE at schielemuseum.org.
Time travel is easy at the Schiele; the Hall of Earth and Man takes visitors through thousands of years of prehistory.
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GASTON COUNTY
GASTON COUNTY
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Portfolio / B Y J E S S I C A M O Z O
Hop on a Hog R ID E R ’ S ED G E PRO GR A M G E T S NE W BIK ER S OF F T O A S A F E S TA R T
A
lways wanted to ride a Harley? Well, here’s your chance. Carolina Harley-Davidson Buell in Gastonia, the state’s largest Harley store, offers classes for beginning riders, skilled riders and group riders through a program called The Rider’s Edge. “The new rider course starts with the very basics of motorcycling. We talk about things people need to know before ever getting on a motorcycle the first two nights of class,” says Robbie Duncan, Rider’s Edge program manager at Carolina Harley-Davidson. “We provide the motorcycles, and there are two rider coaches per class with six students. It’s rewarding to see the progress of new riders.” Carolina Harley-Davidson Buell began offering the classes in May 2004. “It was something people had been asking for,” Duncan says. “People often want a motorcycle, but they’re not sure where to start.” The New Rider Course is held over four days – typically Thursday and Friday nights and all day Saturday and Sunday. The course costs $295 per person, which includes the use of a 492cc Buell Blast, a light, rider-friendly motorcycle. Carolina Harley-Davidson Buell has been serving Gaston County for more than 20 years. In addition to motorcycles, the dealership sells parts, accessories and a full line of MotorClothes merchandise and collectibles. “The unique thing about us is that our owners, Click and Diane Baldwin, were motorcycle riders even before they owned the dealership,” Duncan says. “They have a true love for motorcycles and are very involved in the daily operation of the dealership.”
Carolina Harley-Davidson Buell offers its Rider’s Edge classes for beginner, skilled and group riders.
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GASTON COUNTY
PHOTOS BY BRIAN McCORD
GASTON COUNTY
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Portfolio
Eat for Your Good Health O
livia Sanders knows firsthand how healthy eating can turn a person’s life around. After a blood transfusion more than 30 years ago left her with hepatitis C, diabetes and liver and heart disease, Sanders’ future looked very grim. “Doctors told me the disease would kill me, and there was nothing they could do but keep me comfortable,” Sanders recalls. “I started praying to God, asking Him to show me what to do.”
I’m now healed of the hepatitis C.” Sanders was so enthusiastic about the positive effects of eating healthy, she opened Sprouts Café in the lower level of the Organic Marketplace in April 2006. The café offers fresh juices, smoothies, wraps, burritos, sandwiches, soups and a raw food and salad bar. The menu includes several interesting sandwiches, including the Gorilla Crunch (almond butter, banana and honey), the Naked Avocado (avocado, spinach, sundried tomatoes, sprouts, and feta and havarti cheeses) and the See My Hummus (open-faced with hummus, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell peppers, feta and havarti). All sandwiches come with potato salad or black beans. And eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to skip dessert. Sprouts Café serves up strawberry cheesecake, raw fudge, a raspberry frozen delight and several fresh fruit pies. The café also hosts free lectures and classes on healthy eating and diet supplements. “Eating healthy makes you feel better, helps you get off medication, gives you more energy and lowers blood pressure and cholesterol,” Sanders says. “It changes lives – I’m a living testimony.”
She discovered the answer to her health problems could be found in changing her diet. “I took myself off all my medicines and quit eating meat and dairy. Instead, I began eating things like leafy greens and living foods, cucumber juice, wheat grass juice and carrot juice, and it started healing my body,” Sanders says. “In the first week, I no longer had high blood pressure, and eventually the diabetes went away. That was two years ago, and
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SISCO is located in Gastonia, just off South New Hope Road. Call them for further information on their complete line of services.
GASTONIA
704-824-8880
BRIAN McCORD
SISCO Fire & Safety keeps current with advancements in fire safety technology. They offer fire training to enable your employees to respond effectively in the event of a fire, as well as safety supplies that meet OSHA requirements. In addition, many facility maintenance items are available, which enables businesses to consolidate their safety, fire and facility needs.
Olivia Sanders turned her health around with an all-natural diet packed with foods now offered at Sprouts Café in Gastonia.
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GASTON COUNTY
Practice makes perfect; some local horseshoe pitchers boast 60- to 70-percent accuracy rates.
A Community of Pitchers ot many towns can boast a championship-quality, 24-court horseshoe pitching facility, but George Poston Park in Lowell has just that. “Gaston County has always had a rich horseshoe pitching history, and there are a lot of state champion pitchers from this area,” says Cathy Hart, director of Gaston County Parks and Recreation. The complex hosts five or six regional and state horseshoe tournaments every year from April through October. “They draw a fair crowd,” Hart says. “People drive here from as far away as New York and Maryland for the tournaments.” The sport of horseshoe pitching is so popular, Hart says, because it is one of the few sports enjoyed by very young children on up to senior adults, and it provides good exercise without much risk of game-related injuries. Horseshoe pitching is also versatile, because it can be played as an individual or team sport. “We have a lot of fathers and sons pitch together, and even three generations of pitchers in some families,” Hart says. “We have some informal leagues at the courts in the evenings, and we have a youth division, ladies division and seniors division.” The game of horseshoes is typically played by players alternating turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40 feet away. “People who play on a regular basis pitch with a high degree of accuracy,” Hart says. “They’re classified according to their ringer percentage, or percentage of accuracy. Some local pitchers are 60 and 70 percent.” GASTON COUNTY
WE S ALDRIDGE
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Portfolio
PHOTOS BY BRIAN McCORD
Gaston County moviegoers can enjoy two big screens in the great outdoors: The Bessemer City-Kings Mountain Drive-In and the Belmont Drive-In.
A Trip Down Memory Lane N
ostalgic drive-in theaters have all but vanished across America, but not in Gaston County. Gaston County boasts not one, but two drive-ins, and on just about any summer night, they’re hopping. Built in 1946, Belmont Drive-In is the county’s oldest drive-in. Peggy Lawing and her family have owned it since 1983. “On Friday and Saturday nights in the summer, we’re sold out before it even gets dark,” Lawing says. “Our drive-in has a full eight-track Dolby stereo sound system – as good a sound as any walk-in theater – and the picture screen is 80 feet long and 60 feet high. Movies like Jurassic Park, Star Wars and Titanic were made for a big screen like this.” One of the reasons people flock to Belmont Drive-In by the carload is the value. For $8 per vehicle, patrons can see two first-run films. “We tell them they can tie people to the car, strap them to the windshield, whatever,” Lawing says with a laugh. Plus, patrons know they can see a movie at the drive-in as soon as they can see it anywhere else, and they don’t have to worry about children making noise during the movie. No drive-in would be complete without a concession stand, and Belmont certainly isn’t lacking there. “We offer handy foods like hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken strips, nachos, candy, cotton candy, fresh-popped popcorn and French fries,” Lawing says. County movie fans can also enjoy a second outdoor venue: the Bessemer City-Kings Mountain Drive-In.
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GASTON COUNTY
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth W
hen businesses or individuals in Gaston County need a gift, they order a candy bouquet from Cherubs Candy Bouquets, and in the process, they support people with developmental and physical disabilities. Cherubs Candy Bouquets and the adjacent Cherubs Café on Main Street in downtown Belmont are subsidiaries of Holy Angels, a nonprofit corporation that is home to about 75 disabled children and adults. Residents can receive vocational training by working at Cherubs Café or assembling the Cherubs Candy Bouquets. “The candy bouquets include anything from the best chocolates in the world to peppermints and sugar-free candies,” says Lee Davis, community relations director at Holy Angels. “Our residents do incredibly well at building the bouquets, and meanwhile they get job skills, earn a paycheck, build their selfesteem and give back to the community.” Holy Angels residents can also take orders, serve and help prepare food at Cherubs Café. The café features gourmet and specialty coffees, ice cream and fresh-baked desserts, and homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. Sister Nancy Nance, director of information and outreach services at Holy Angels, has been working with the organization for 22 years. “What’s most enjoyable is knowing you’re making a difference in the lives of these people, and watching and getting to know them,” Nance says. “I see little miracles happen on a daily basis, like someone making a candy rose for the first time or seeing them making a quiche at Cherubs Café. It may have taken them two years to learn that skill, but they’ve finally mastered it.”
“Dedicated to building your future through superior quality, ethics and employee development”
Forestview High School
BE M CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC
P.O. Box 129 • 601 E. Main St. • Cherryville, NC 28021 Telephone: 704.435.3206 • Fax: 704.435.8412 beamconstruction.com • rbrowne@beamconstruction.com
Cherubs Candy Bouquets give a boost to the Holy Angels organization as well as the lucky recipient. GASTON COUNTY
“Serving Gaston County and surrounding communities for over 50 years. Specializing in commercial/industrial, churches, education and municipal work”
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I M A G E gallery
Fountain at Belmont Abbey College
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PHOTOGR APHY BY
Brian McCord
18th-century farm at the Schiele Museum
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Business G A S T O N
S TORY BY
C O.
Jim Elliott
Bagging Up
Results C h a mber a nd cou nt y t e a m up t o a t t r a c t n e w i n d u s t r y
P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F L I N D A D U R R E T T/ G A S T O N C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
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Bill Sudyk, president/CEO of Alliance Bank & Trust, sizes up new business prospects as chairman of the Gaston County Chamber of Commerce board.
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strong partnership between the Chamber of Commerce E conom ic Development Division – EDD – and the county’s Economic Development Commission has helped Gaston County reinvent its economy. One of the partnership’s recent success stories is the arrival of Dole Fresh Vegetables, which just opened a 280,000-square-foot plant in Bessemer City to produce fresh, bagged salads. Employment at this plant is expected to grow from 300 initially to 900 within a few years. Also new on the local scene is the 430,000-square-foot plant being opened in Mount Holly by National Gypsum Corp., which will add 65 jobs initially and 100 eventually, producing 1 billion square feet per year of wallboard used in construction. A recent addition to the Gastonia economy is an engineering center that designs and tests flight actuation systems for the Curtiss Wright Corp. (The Wright in the name proudly traces GASTON COUNTY
P H O T O C O U R T E S Y O F L I N D A D U R R E T T/ G A S T O N C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E
National Gypsum’s new plant in Mount Holly is slated to add 65 jobs to the local economy at startup.
its roots to Wilbur and Orville.) This sort of growth would be a boon to any community; in Gaston County’s case, credit goes to the hard work and strong partnership forged between private and public business. “We make a concerted effort to go out and call on businesses,” says Bill Sudyk, chair of the Gaston County Chamber of Commerce board and president/CEO of Alliance Bank & Trust. The chamber formed the Economic Development Division a few of years ago to help supplement the county’s efforts. “With the private fundraising from the chamber, we were able to take our program and advance it significantly,” says Donny Hicks, for 22 years the executive director of the Gaston County Economic Development Commission. “This private money works really hard because it’s not encumbered by overhead,” Hicks adds. “The county in GASTON COUNTY
turn did a smart thing and matched their efforts by hiring a marketing director and taking advantage of these funds. We pay for the personnel and use the money for pure marketing.” Gaston County has several things going for it when recruiting businesses, including availability of low-cost property and buildings, and a large workforce. Location is also a plus, with downtown Charlotte and the Charlotte airport both less than a 30-minute car ride from Gastonia. Midway between the Florida Keys and New England, and 200 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, Gaston County is strategically located to serve the entire eastern United States. And it has a very receptive business community. “We’re very active in the partnership,” Sudyk says. “Donny might call and say he’s got a prospect and we need to jump on a plane and go to Chicago or
wherever, and we’ll take some folks and go meet these people. We don’t want to miss opportunities.”
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Business G A S T O N
B R I E F S
PHOTOS BY GREG EMENS
B I Z
C O.
The Great Outdoors’ recent expansion provides more room for its extensive selection of outdoor supplies and apparel.
SUPER-SIZED SELEC T ION The Great Outdoors has gotten bigger. In July 2006, Sam and Warren Beam relocated their 7-year-old outdoor store to its new location on North Cherry Street in Cherryville. The move to the former Winn-Dixie store tripled the size of the store to 15,000 square feet. With the added space, the store is carrying more lines of clothing, bows, guns and other merchandise. It’s also enabled the Beams to add an indoor bow range, with plans for an indoor pistol range to follow. Just as important as the room inside is the space outside. While the old location had room for only five or six cars to park, the new site has more than 100 spaces and ample room for boats, trailers and other full-sized vehicles. The change has also made The Great Outdoors more of a regional attraction, with customers coming from a 50-mile radius to take in the additional merchandise and more adventurous décor, including plenty of trophy mounts and a safari room. “We looked at some other locations
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[when considering where to relocate], but this is a good hub, so we decided to stay here,” Sam Beam says. A L WAY S A G O O D N E I G H B O R DSM Desotech is committed to the well-being of the Stanley community, both inside and outside its production facility. Ultraviolet-curable coatings, inks and matrix materials designed to protect telecommunications optical fiber and optical cable are DSM Desotech’s specialty. Despite the hightech nature of the operation, however, this is one company that hasn’t forgotten the basics. In 2005, DSM Desotech was honored for its safe workplace by its corporate parents. Out of 200 DSM sites worldwide, the Stanley plant was named the winner of the corporation’s Safety, Health and Environment Award. The American Chemistry Council and the North Carolina Department of Labor also have bestowed similar honors. But DSM Desotech, which employs 55 at its facility, is equally concerned about
keeping its Gaston County neighbors happy and healthy. The company, which recently celebrated its fifth year in Stanley, has thrown itself head first into community-wide philanthropic efforts. Among its endeavors include adoption of Kiser Elementary School for various projects, contributions to the town’s recreation programs and a Relay for Life team that raised more than $13,000 in the fight against cancer. FLOORED BY SUCCESS When Greg Garrison, Scott Berryman and Dwayne Justice launched their business, Just Hardwoods Flooring and Design Center, in April 2005, they had no idea how fast they’d be growing. But it wasn’t long before the trio determined they needed a bit more floor space to display their flooring options. They moved into a 1,100-foot showroom at 17 S. Main St. in downtown Belmont, with 3,000 feet of warehouse space a few hundred yards away. Just Hardwoods sells and installs a variety of hardwood f loors. The company also refinishes existing floors. GASTON COUNTY
All work is done by one of the company’s four crews. Though open for less than 18 months, the company is already building a name in Belmont and surrounding communities. Half of its business now comes from referrals, and many satisfied customer reviews can be found at its Web site, justhardwoodsflooring.com. “Belmont is a booming town. We’ve been received quite well here,” Garrison says. The name, however, is a bit misleading. Just Hardwoods also offers a line of ceramic tile and area rugs in addition to its wood flooring products. GR ANDMA WOULD BE PROUD When he was 6 years old, Eddie Hoyt’s grandmother introduced him to the kitchen, teaching him – among other things – how to pickle and how to can peaches. In 1994, he paid her back, naming his and his wife’s business Grandma Hoyt’s. The Bessemer City business was launched as a catering company, specializing in homemade sauces and dressings. In 2003, the couple added a bakery and in 2005, a restaurant. Today’s menu features many of Grandma Hoyt’s original recipes, including the chicken-stuffed pasta that has become a local favorite. Up to 200 people can now be seated in the restaurant – which keeps a rather unorthodox schedule for its popular breakfast, lunch and dinner service. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and for breakfast Saturdays. It’s closed on Tuesdays. “We’re just here when the people are here,” says Eddie Hoyt, who adds that the schedule is also done to balance work and family life. The couple has three school-aged children at home.
introduction of an unusual item to their product line, one thing hasn’t changed. “We still sell high-quality, fine pieces of jewelry. We just sell more of it,” Lou Anne Harris says. Since 2001, Douglas R. Harris Jewelers has been located in a gleaming facility on Old Country Club Road in Gastonia. The couple custom-built the store, using hardwood floors from an old Charlotte warehouse and 1940s jewelry cases to house their top-of-the-line merchandise. But exquisite pieces of jewelry aren’t all to be found inside. The couple recently added a wine division, employing Anne Elam to manage the department and holding three to four wine tastings annually. The philosophy behind the wine department is the same one that has guided the Harris family for 25 years. “We only buy what we think is good,” Lou Anne says. – Dan Markham
Douglas R. Harris Jewelers now sells fine wines in addition to fine jewelry.
BR ACELE T S AND BORDEAUX Since opening their jewelry store in a small carriage house a quarter-century ago, Doug and Lou Anne Harris have relocated three times. But, in all that time, through three moves and the GASTON COUNTY
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Business G A S T O N
E C O N O M I C
BUSINESS CLIMATE
C O.
P R O F I L E
Gaston County strives for a healthy economy by growing existing businesses, bringing in new and successful industries, improving infrastructure, and getting citizens excited about an emerging market.
MAJOR EMPLOYERS Employers American & Efird 1,000+ Caromont Health 1,000+ County of Gaston 1,000+ Freightliner of Gastonia LLC 1,000+ Freightliner of Mount Holly LLC 1,000+ Gaston County Schools 1,000+ Pharr Yarns Inc. 1,000+ Sara Lee Corp. 1,000+ Wal-Mart Association Inc. 1,000+ Wix Filtration 1,000+
COUNTY ADMINISTRATION & MUNICIPAL HALL LOCATIONS Gaston County Administration Manager’s Office, 212 W. Main St. 866-3100 City of Belmont City Hall, 39 N. Main St. 825-5586
Town of Cramerton Town Hall, 155 N. Main St. 824-4337 Town of Dallas Town Hall, 210 N. Holland St. 922-3176 City of Gastonia City Hall, 181 South St. 866-6719 City of High Shoals City Hall, 101 Thompkins St. 735-1651 City of Kings Mountain City Hall, 101 Gold St. 734-0333 City of Lowell Town Hall, 101 W. First St. 824-8540 Town of McAdenville Town Hall, 125 Main St. 824-3190 City of Mount Holly City Hall, 131 S. Main St. 827-3931
City of Bessemer City City Hall, 132 W. Virginia Ave. 629-5542
Town of Ranlo Town Hall 1624 Spencer Mountain Rd. 824-3461
City of Cherryville City Hall, 116 S. Mountain St. 435-1710
Town of Stanley Town Hall, 114 S. Main St. 263-4779
A convenient location, great transportation infrastructure and a skilled workforce are just some of the advantages Gaston County has to offer businesses seeking to locate to the area. 32
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TAXES Sales tax 7.0% Property taxes $0.893 per $100 valuation Additional taxes include a small fire district tax and municipal taxes within municipalities. Local Property Tax Rates Taxing Authorities $ Per $100 Valuation Gaston County $0.89 City of Belmont $0.46 City of Bessemer City $0.41 City of Cherryville $0.44 Town of Cramerton $0.43 Town of Dallas $0.35 City of Gastonia $0.54 City of High Shoals $0.43 City of Kings Mountain $0.36 City of Lowell $0.40 Town of McAdenville $0.30 City of Mount Holly $0.45 Town of Ranlo $0.37 Town of Spencer $0.26 Town of Stanley $0.54 Sources: The Gaston County Economic Development Commission, county government and municipal governments
The area code for Gaston County is 704.
GASTON COUNTY
HOUSING COSTS
Seventeen business parks reside in Gaston County, providing an average of 60-80 industrial facilities at any given time. 2005 EFFECTIVE BUYING INCOME (000’S) Charlotte MSA
Gaston
$41,151,253
$3,251,185
$1,121,665
$40,557
$35,994
$33,568
$20,000 - $34,999
23.30%
25.90%
24.70%
$35,000 - $49,999
21.00%
21.80%
19.00%
$50,000 & Over
37.20%
29.80%
28.90%
Total EBI Median Household EBI
Gastonia
Percent of Households
In ACCRA Cost-Of-Living Surveys, Gastonia/Gaston County consistently rates as one of the communities with the lowest cost-of-living in the Southeast. Housing costs are below the national average. A new mid-management 2,400-square-foot home located within city limits with close proximity to shopping and schools costs less than $230,000.
COST OF LIVING INDEX First Quarter, 2004 Charleston, W.Va. 88.8 Rocky Mount 89.7 Dothan, Ala. 90.4
Sources: Sales & Marketing Management, 2005 Survey of Buying Power
TRANSPORTATION
INTERESTING FACTS
Clearwater, Fla. 90.6 Gastonia 91.6
Airports Charlotte/Douglas International Airport • 359-4013
More than 70 of the companies listed on Fortune’s 500 operate in Gaston County.
Highways Interstates 40, 77 and 85 run through, or are minutes away from, Gaston County. Gaston County also has three major U.S. highways and eight major state highways.
Gaston County has 22 foreignowned firms, and four are U.S. headquarters.
Railroad Amtrak • (800) USA-RAIL
GASTON COUNTY POPULATION AND PROJECTIONS
INCOME STATISTICS
2005
194,100
2004 per capita personal income $28,961
2010
197,168
2015
201,125
2004 median household income $42,424
2020
213,227
2025
205,240
2005 average employment 96,015
Source: North Carolina demographer’s office
More than 200 metalworking firms provide diverse services for Gaston County.
Greenville, S.C. 92.8 Bradenton, Fla. 93.3 Sumter, S.C. 93.4 Tuscaloosa, Ala. 94.3 Pensacola, Fla. 94.4 Fayetteville 95.2 Valdosta, Ga. 95.3
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Gaston County is the second-largest county in the rapidly growing Charlotte area.
GASTON COUNTY
Albany, Ga. 90.5
Gaston County Economic Development Commission P.O. Box 2339, Gastonia, NC 28053 Phone: (704) 825-4046 Fax: (704) 825-4066 gaston.org Gaston Chamber of Commerce 601 W. Franklin Blvd. Gastonia, NC 28052 Phone: (704) 864-2621, (800) 348-8461, Fax: (704) 854-8723 gastonchamber.com Sources: gaston.org, gastontourism.com, fedstats.gov
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Celebrating 40 Years of Education Excellence I am tradition. I am accomplished. I am prepared. I am community. I am inspired. I am a champion. I am Gaston Day.
Independent • Accredited • College Preparatory Pre-K (ages 3 & 4)–12th grade 2001 Gaston Day School Rd. • Gastonia, NC 28056
704-864-7744 • www.gastonday.org questions answers
©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.
8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r. o r g
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GASTON COUNTY
EDUCAT ION
A Vote for the Future COUNT Y VOTERS GIVE GAS TON COLLEGE MAS TER PLAN AN ECONOMIC BOOS T
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to support building projects outlined in Gaston College’s master plan. “We were delighted to see this kind of support from the community,” says Gaston College President Pat Skinner. “Our request for $24.9 million was critical to help the college keep pace with growing
BRIAN McCORD
t’s probably rare when a local college gets a vote of confidence – and a commitment of cash – from the residents of the community where it’s located. But that’s just what happened on Nov. 7, 2006, when the voters of Gaston County approved a $24.9 million bond referendum
New building projects at Gaston College promise benefits for the entire community. GASTON COUNTY
enrollment and educational needs in our community as well as expand the number and variety of workforce development courses and training.” The referendum passed with 56 percent of the vote and will result in a property tax increase of less than 2 cents per $100 valuation – just $2.50 monthly for a house valued at $150,000. Yet the return on that investment is incalculable to area citizens. About $12 million will fund the new David Belk Cannon Health Education Institute; a primary purpose is to help build and maintain a local career pipeline for allied health and wellness professionals. The investment also will ensure continuing education for health-care professionals in Gaston and Lincoln counties. “These bond funds will help us increase enrollment in health programs, expand health programs, and develop a range of health and wellness education programs,” Skinner says. Another $12 million will fund a new general classroom building of 47,220 square feet to handle the increased demand, particularly from students who attend Gaston College for their first two years and then transfer to a four-year school to complete their baccalaureate degree. With space available, new programs will be added for graphic arts, forensics technology and human services. The remaining $900,000 will be used to renovate the classroom building on the college’s Belmont campus, allowing for expansion in the number and variety of workforce development courses. More than 30,000 students annually attend the college’s three locations – Belmont, the Dallas main campus in Gaston County, plus the Lincolnton campus in Lincoln County. With a substantial budget – $34 million for the 2005-2006 academic year, for example – Gaston College plays a significant role in the local economy. About 80 percent of the students currently stay in the region, but with the expansions planned, that percentage could grow. – Sharon H. Fitzgerald IMAGE SGA S TONCOUNT Y.COM
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ARTS/CULTURE
An Inspirational Setting F O R M O R E T H A N A C E N T U R Y, B E L M O N T A B B E Y H A S B E E N A H O M E F O R T H E A R T S
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN McCORD
elmont Abbey is the bucolic home of a Benedictine monastery as well as a private, coeducational liberal arts college. But Gaston County knows it best as a center for culture, with theater and musical events throughout the year. The college is a “cultural bridge for the ‘Metrolina’ area,” explains Simon Donoghue, director of the Abbey Players, a theatrical company almost as old as the monastery itself – which was founded in 1876. For 123 years, the company has drawn
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performers and audiences from faculty, students, staff and area residents. Since 1990, it has had a formal partnership with the Belmont Community Theater. Donoghue says there are six productions each year, at least one of which is a musical. “There has hardly been a play that doesn’t include either professional or amateur actors from the larger community,” Donoghue says. Among the recent productions staged at the Haid Theater are Steven Sondheim’s
GASTON COUNTY
Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd, as well as A Little Shop of Horrors and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. The beautiful Abbey Basilica, dating from 1893, is another important cultural asset. It was once the only abbey cathedral in the nation, and its painted glass windows won a gold prize at the Colombian Exposition in 1893. In 1998, it was named a Minor Basilica by Rome and is one of the primary reasons the college’s central campus was designated a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Music is an important part of the basilica’s heritage. Its recently restored organ, for example, has attracted the attention of a number of nationally prominent musicians, and a variety of free concerts featuring visiting artists are open to the public. The Abbey Chorus, which also has membership open to neighboring communities, offers regular performances, and a second vocal group, the Belmont Abbey Quintet, is a classical chamber group. The rich acoustics and classical setting make using the basilica a joy for choruses and instrumentalists, Donoghue says. It seats a few hundred people, which makes it ideal for a wide variety of concerts. Another widely acclaimed feature of the abbey is the Lourdes Grotto, created in 1891. Blessed by the church as a pilgrimage shrine, its serene setting inspires contemplation and prayer. In fact, the setting of the campus has a lot to do with the comfortable relationship between college and community, according to Monte Monteleon, director of corporate and foundation relations for Belmont Abbey College. Although the college is on a 650-acre tract in a pastoral setting, it is only 10 minutes from urban Charlotte and easily accessible to residents throughout Gaston County as well as neighboring communities. – Sandy Campbell
Gastonia Office 916 E. Garrison Blvd. • Gastonia, NC 28054 • 704-869-8840
Shelby Office 412 S. Dekalb St. • Shelby, NC 28150 • 704-471-1500
Administrative Office 292 W. Main Ave. • Gastonia, NC 28052 704-867-5828 or 704-865-1634
alliancebankandtrust.com
At one time, the Belmont Abbey basilica was the only abbey cathedral in the United States, and it remains one of the most impressive. Its glass windows won a gold prize at the Columbian Exposition in 1893, the same year they were installed. GASTON COUNTY
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HEALTH/WELLNESS
Top Care Close to Home G A S T ON MEMOR I AL AND K ING S MOUN TA IN S E RV E CO UN T Y ’ S HE ALT H - C AR E NEED S
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At the time, it was one of the largest and most advanced facilities of its kind in the United States – and it still is, says Jean Waters, Gaston Memorial director of marketing and public relations. “We have had visitors literally from all over the world coming to see this particular facility, because it’s not just another OB unit,” she says. “It’s built on the philosophy of patient-centered care, and therefore it’s unique.” The private patient suites are all LDRP rooms. “That means labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum time all in the same room. You never move or change places, and everything comes to you,” says Lynn Harmon, clinical manager of The Birthplace’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
“The suites are very non-medical, and that was on purpose. We tried to create an environment that exudes the wellness of birth. There’s a lot of family-type art, warm wood and curved surfaces.” A specially designed whirlpool bath in each suite even allows moms to labor in the tub. Individual suites are particularly important in the NICU, she adds. “That allows not just for privacy, which is one of the big things, but allows us to develop the environment, such as noise level and lighting, for each baby’s needs.” Other services of Gaston Memorial include emergency and surgical; psychiatric; cancer and heart centers; neurosciences; pain management; rehabilitation and sports medicine; and
BRIAN McCORD
hen Gaston County residents need hospital care, it’s there, thanks to two health-care networks – CaroMont Health and Carolinas HealthCare System – with top-quality facilities in the area. The flagship of CaroMont, an independent, not-for-profit chain, is the 435-bed Gaston Memorial Hospital on Highland Street in Gastonia. The 102-bed Kings Mountain Hospital, nearby in Cleveland County, is one of 16 hospitals in the Carolinas system, which is the third-largest public health-care system in the nation. Drawing attention across the globe is Gaston Memorial’s The Birthplace, which opened the doors of a new 52-suite family birthing center in October 2004.
Gaston Memorial Hospital attracts national attention for its services and facilities, including The Birthplace, a state-of-the-art birthing center, as well as the CaroMont Cancer Center, CaroMont Heart Center and other specialty treatment centers. GASTON COUNTY
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Serving the people of Gaston County since 1981
MedScreen Take a Closer Look at MedScreen Services Immediate Results • Mobile Random Programs All Types of Drug Testing Workplace Programs • Day Care Physicals
Compassionate Care for the People You Love ... Professional health care for the terminally ill and their families. • Nursing services specializing in pain management and symptom control. • Social Services • Spiritual and emotional care • Volunteer services • Bereavement counseling • 24 hours/7 days a week
Social Security Check • Flu-shot Clinics DOT Compliant • Hair Follicle Testing Breath Alcohol Testing • DOT Consortium Bilingual Staff • Walk-ins Welcome
NC Licensed • ACHC Accredited Medicare/Medicaid • Private Insurance
DNA/Paternity Testing
Criminal Background Checks
Pre-employment & DOT Physicals
Drug Screens
704-836-8378 224-F S. New Hope Rd. • Gastonia, NC 28054 Located in the New Hope Professional Building in Gastonia, NC
704-861-8405
258 E. Garrison Blvd. • Water Tower Place • Gastonia gastonhospice.org
Unconditional Love. Unlimited Possibilities.
For more than 50 years Holy Angels has provided unconditional love and unlimited possibilities in a residential setting for children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities, many of whom are medically fragile. Our holistic and innovative programs include a special education program, Little Angels Child Development Center (an on-site daycare for employees’ children), horticulture therapy, creative arts, a state-ofthe-art Snoezelen Room, speech and physical therapies and meaningful work opportunities through Holy Angels’ Cherubs Café and Candy Bouquets’ vocational program. You can help Holy Angels, a non-profit 501 (c)(3), by sharing your time, talents and treasures. Visit us at www.holyangelsnc.org. HOLY ANGELS, INC. • 6600 Wilkinson Blvd. • P.O. Box 710 Belmont, NC 28012 • 704-825-4161 (main) • 704-825-0553 (fax)
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GASTON COUNTY
HEALTH/WELLNESS
BRIAN McCORD
wound and diabetes centers. Kings Mountain Hospital boasts some of the same services, such as pain management and rehabilitation, yet in a smaller, community hospital. John Young, chief executive officer and president of Cleveland County HealthCare System (a division of the Carolinas system), says the hospital “is like you’ve never seen it before. The staff is winning awards in customer service and patient satisfaction at a national level.” At the end of 2006, Kings Mountain opened its new MRI/CT suite, providing sophisticated diagnostic services with full digital-imaging capabilities. Young adds, “With new and modern emergency and surgery departments, combined with more than 50 years of providing inpatient and outpatient services to neighbors and friends, KMH is just the right size to give personalized and professional care close to home.” – Sharon H. Fitzgerald
Award-winning customer service is a trademark of Kings Mountain Hospital.
GASTON COUNTY
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Š 2007 Journal Communications Inc.
Contact RE/MAX Select for your real estate needs. RE/MAX Select 331-A South Lafayette Street Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 487-7653 (Shelby Office) (704) 434-7660 (Boiling Springs Office) (877) 481-7653 (Toll-free)
E-mail: selecthomes1@bellsouth.net selectcleveland.com remax-carolina.com
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GASTON COUNTY
SPORTS/RECREAT ION
Be Sure to Take the High Road C R O W D E R S M O U N TA I N T W I N P E A K S A R E G U A R A N T E E D T O TA K E Y O U R B R E AT H AWAY
very weekend from March through November, members of the Charlotte Outdoor Adventures group make the short trip west to Crowders Mountain State Park. “It’s a little bit of wilderness in an urban environment,” says Glen George, a ranger with the North Carolina Parks System. The Charlotte visitors are just a few of the thousands of local residents and travelers who descend upon Crowders Mountain each year to cover the park’s miles of trails. Hiking – whether it’s a rugged journey to the summits of Crowders Mountain or King’s Pinnacle, or a leisurely stroll around the park lake – is one of the favorite activities of visitors. Most park visitors have one of the summits in mind when they arrive. King’s Pinnacle is the taller of the two peaks at 1,705 feet above sea level and 900 feet above the surrounding grounds. The only way to get there is on the strenuous Pinnacle Trail, which covers 1.7 miles. Many of the hikers will take the Pinnacle Trail up the mountain, then detour onto the Turnback Trail for a shorter descent to the park entrance. The Turnback covers less than a mile and is rated moderate. There are several ways up Crowders Mountain, which tops out at an elevation of 1,625 feet. The most demanding of the trails is the Crowders, a 2.5-mile trek that is also rated strenuous. The Rocktop, Tower and Backside trails are also classified as strenuous, ranging in distance from .9 to 2 miles. The Backside is accessed from the Lynwood Road Access site on the north side of the park grounds. For those thrill-seekers looking for even more challenges on the way up, rock climbing is offered in designated areas at the park. Waiting at the top of either mountain is a breathtaking view that encompasses Charlotte and smaller towns to the north and east and additional mountains to the south. Of course, in hiking, the journey is GASTON COUNTY
the destination, and all of the trails at Crowders offer plenty of sights along the way. Animals abound along the trails, with 160 species of birds having been spotted within the park. And for botany lovers such as George Ball, who was hiking the grounds “before it even became a park,” the trails are a treasure trove of opportunities. “It’s a beautiful park with a lot of interesting vistas and interesting plants,” says Ball, treasurer of the Friends of Crowders State Park, an organization
that raises money to support park programs. “There are a lot of rare to unusual plants you won’t find many other places.” Crowders Mountain’s appeal to serious hikers will grow even more in the coming years, George says. Work has already begun on a 7.5-mile trail that will connect Crowders Mountain to nearby Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain Military Park. Officials hope to open the new trail within two years. – Dan Markham
S TEPHEN CHERRY
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Lower elevations have their charms, but most visitors to Crowders Mountain have their eye on one of the two dramatic summits, reaching a top height of 1,705 feet. IMAGE SGA S TONCOUNT Y.COM
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Look, a tall purple rectangle!
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GASTON COUNTY
Gaston Co. C O M M U N I T Y SNAPSHOT
P R O F I L E
Gaston County stretches over 364 square miles of rolling hills and mountainous peaks. The highest point, known as Kings Mountain Pinnacle, reigns over the county at 1,705 feet above sea level.
EDUCATION Gaston County Schools Public schools Private schools
866-6100 52 16
Higher Education Belmont Abbey College (888) 222-0110, http://belmontabbeycollege.edu/
CLIMATE Average temperature 60 F Average January high 50 F Average January low 29 F Average July high 89 F Average July low 69 F Average annual precipitation 44 in. Average relative humidity 54%
Gaston College
922-6200, gaston.edu
GOLF COURSES Applecreek Golf Course 922-4440 Briarcreek Golf Club 922-4208
POPULATION 2004 2005 estimate
192,042 196,137
UTILITIES Electricity Duke Energy • (800) 777-9898 Natural Gas SCANA-PSNC Energy • (877) 776-2427 Phone BellSouth • (800) 285-1134 Water and Sewer Contact the Gaston County Economic Development Commission • 825-4046
MEDICAL FACILITY Caromont Health Care/Gaston Memorial Hospital 834-2000
Crowders Mountain Golf Club 739-7681, (800) 633-1729 Gastonia Municipal Golf Course 866-6945
Gaston County Park at Bess Elementary School Beaty Road at W. A. Bess Elementary Gaston County Park at Catawba Heights Elementary School Catawba Heights Elementary School, 101 Ivey St., Belmont Gaston County Park at Camp Sertoma Located off Dallas Cherryville Highway, NC 275 Gaston County Park at Chapel Grove Chapel Grove Road, at the Optimist Club Gaston County Park at Cramerton Middle School Cramer Mountain Road, Cramerton
Green Meadows Golf Course 827-9264
Gaston County Park at Dallas Dallas Cherryville Hwy.
Linwood Springs Golf Club 867-1642
Gaston County Park at East Gaston High School 710 Lane Road in Mount Holly
PARKS
Gaston County Park at Forestview High School Union Road, Gastonia
Gaston County Park at Beam Elementary School 3005 S. York Rd., Gastonia Gaston County Park at Bessemer City Crowders Mountain – Bessemer City Road in Bessemer City Gaston County Park at Belmont Central Elementary School 310 Eagle Rd., Belmont
Gaston County Park at New Hope Elementary School Stowe Road (just off South New Hope Road) Gaston County Park at North Belmont Hickory Grove Road, North of Belmont
Festivals abound in Gaston County. Nearly every town hosts an event that celebrates local history or displays residents’ artistic talents. The area code for Gaston County is 704.
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T R AV E L FA N TA S Y O N E
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To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
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Sometimes winning a race is not about beating
the other runners. It’s about honoring survivors and those
Jay B. Smith, AAMS
who’ve lost the battle. It’s about raising
942 E. Garrison Blvd. Gastonia, NC 28054 (704) 861-9121
funds for research, education, screening and
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treatment. The Komen Race for the Cure® is about support, not competition. Join us at komen.org or 1.800 I’M AWARE®.
Member SIPC
This space provided as a public service. ©2004, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
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GASTON COUNTY
Gaston County Park at Pinewood Elementary School Hwy. 273 N. in Mount Holly
Ferguson Branch Library 913 N. Pryor St., Gastonia 868-8046
Gaston County Park at Robinson Elementary School 3122 Union Road, Gastonia (at Robinson Elementary School)
Lowell Branch Library 203 McAdenville Road., Lowell 824-1266
Gaston County Park at Tryon Hwy. 274 between Bessemer City and Cherryville George Poston Park Lowell-Spencer Mountain Road, Lowell Lewis Brooks Airfield Abel Road, Bessemer City
Charles R. Jonas Library 306 W. Main St., Lincolnton 735-8044 Mount Holly Branch Library 245 W. Catawba Ave. Mount Holly 827-3581
Florence Soule Shanklin Branch Library 7837 Fairfield Forest Rd., Denver 483-3589 Stanley Branch Library 205 Peterson St., Stanley 263-4166 Union Road Branch Library 5800 Union Rd., Gastonia 852-4073 West Lincoln Branch Library 5545 W. Highway 27, Vale 276-9946
MUSEUMS American Military Museum 866-6068 C. Grier Beam Truck Museum 435-3072 The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden 825-4490 Gaston County Museum of Art and History
922-7681
Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium 866-6900 The United Arts Council of Gaston County 853-ARTS (2787)
LIBRARIES The Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library system is the sixth-largest public library system in the state. Gaston County Public Library, Regional Headquarters 555 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia 868-2164 Belmont Branch Library 25 Central Ave., Belmont 825-5426 Bessemer City Branch Library 207 N. 12th St., Bessemer City 629-3321 Cherryville Branch Library 605 E. Main St., Cherryville 435-6767 Dallas Branch Library 105 S. Holland St., Dallas 922-3621
The area code for Gaston County is 704.
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ACCOMMODATIONS The Abbey Inn 7008 Wilkinson Blvd. 825-5506 Affordable Suites of America, 1921 Bessemer City Rd., Gastonia 853-0045 American Motel 6834 Wilkinson Blvd., Belmont 825-3753 Bel Air Motel 3421 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia 864-1753
Best Western I-85 at New Hope, Gastonia 868-2000/(800) WESTERN Budget Inn 800 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia 865-3421/(800) 446-4656 Comfort Suites 1874 Remount Rd., Gastonia 865-6688/(800) 228-5150 Courtyard by Marriott 1856 Remount Rd., Gastonia 852-4411 Days Inn 1700 N. Chester St., Gastonia 864-9981/800-DAYSINN
Economy Inn 1207 Edgewood Rd., Bessemer City 867-0231 Fairfield Inn 1860 Remount Rd., Gastonia 867-5073/(800) 228-2800 Hampton Inn 1859 Remount Rd., Gastonia (866) 9090/800-HAMPTON Heritage Inn 6822 E. Wilkinson Blvd., Belmont 825-2269 Hill Top Motel 2718 Gastonia/Dallas Hwy., Dallas 922-7876 Holiday Inn Express 250 Beaty Dr., Belmont 812-2000/800-HOLIDAY Holiday Inn Express 1911 Broadcast Dr., Gastonia 884-3300/800-HOLIDAY Microtel 1901 Broadcast St., Gastonia 810-6622/(888) 771-7171 Mid Town Motor Inn 210 S. Chester, Gastonia • 864-9753 Motel 6 1721 Broadcast St., Gastonia 868-4900/ (800) 4-MOTEL 6 Ramada Limited 1400 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia 864-8744/(800) 465-4329 Robin’s Nest 156 N. Main St., Mt. Holly 827-2420/(888) 711-NEST Super 8 502 Cox Rd., Gastonia • 867-3846 Value Lodge 500 Cox Rd., Gastonia • 867-4932
FOR MORE INFORMATION Gaston Chamber of Commerce 601 W. Franklin Blvd. Gastonia, NC 28052 Phone: (704) 864-2621, (800) 348-8461, Fax: (704) 854-8723 gastonchamber.com Sources: gaston.org, co.gaston.nc.us, gastontourism.com, cityofgastonia.com
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GASTON COUNTY
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Visit or call one of our Gaston County Locations: Gastonia Main Office, 100 E. Garrison Blvd. (704) 852-5600 • Fax: (704) 852-5605 Mortgage Department, 100 E. Garrison Blvd. (704) 852-5639 Building a better bank, one customer at a time.™
Gastonia East Office, 500 S. New Hope Rd. (704) 852-5650 • Fax: (704) 852-5655
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Gastonia South Office, 3707 S. New Hope Rd. (704) 824-6800 • Fax: (704) 824-6805
© 2003 RBC Centura Bank. Member FDIC. 1-800-CENTURA rbccentura.com ™ Trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC Centura is a trademark of Royal Bank of Canada. ™ “Building a better bank, one customer at a time” is a trademark of RBC Centura Banks, Inc. RBC Centura is a trade name used by RBC Centura Bank.
GASTON COUNTY
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