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Volume 85 • Issue 29
• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
092619
“Lifetime of Experience”
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Local entrepreneur has vision for North Belmont by Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
For many years the former Roper strip mall on Woodlawn St. in North Belmont sat empty. It was overgrown with weeds, trash was scattered everywhere, and the structure itself looked delapidated. To most folks it was, simply put, an eyesore, but Belmont businessman Jay Pithwa saw an opportunity there.
Pithwa had a dream. He saw the Roper site as the perfect place for a dog friendly bar, a restaurant, perhaps a brewery, and even an art gallery. He saw it as the seed that could bloom and turn North Belmont into a hip district like NoDa in Charlotte. In fact, Pithwa has even come up with a name and logo- NoBel- for his vision. “North Belmont will be the next big thing,” Pithwa
said.”So far, it’s not been touched by the type of development that’s taken place in other parts of the city. It’s been years since this part of town had a buzz.” Pithwa and his business partner Gene Kropfelder bought the Roper property a couple of months ago. It sits on about three acres and the building has plenty of room26k sq. ft. It looked rough but Pithwa saw beyond the scabs.
“The building has good bones,” he said. There was an issue years ago with ground contamination from a dry cleaner that was in the end part of the building and the EPA has a monitoring station out back, but that’s been cleared up. “The EPA helped with the sale from the Roper family to me,” Pithwa said. Last week, workers were starting to repair the roof. Pithwa is eager to get his dog bar going. “I am going to call it Thirsty Dog,” he said. “People will be able to bring their dogs in and have a beer and meet friends.” Pithwa says there will be rules- no aggressive dogs and no loud barking. The bar will not be open during school hours because it’s next to North Belmont Elementary. There will be a space outside for dogs to play. According See VISION, Page 2
Jay Pithwah has a dream to revitalize the long abandoned former Roper strip mall in North Belmont into a dog friendly bar, restaurant, and perhaps a brewery and art gallery. Pithwa is seen at the site with wife Jen, daughter Divya, and their dog Waruu. Photo by Alan Hodge
David Hostetler of Mt. Holly rakes in medals at National Senior Olympics These kids at Kendrick Square Apartments in Mt. Holly were enjoying some time together at the summer lunch program. From left- Hezekiah Benton, Tatiana Benton, Teyon Phillips, Trayvon Phillips. Photo by Alan Hodge
YMCA and Gaston Schools team up to feed kids by Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
The sixth annual YMCA/ Gaston Schools Nutrition summer lunch program is in full swing and kids at a variety of locations are enjoying the food and friendship that comes with it.
Last week saw a group of youngsters from Kendrick Square Apartments in Mt. Holly get together to chow down on a nice lunch, and have some fun just hangin’ out. Ten year old Treyvon Phillips is a Kenderick Square participant.
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“I like meeting the other kids,” he said “We have fun playing and eating together.” Kids 18 years and younger can participate. The Kendrick Square lunch program site manager is Jada Alexander. See YMCA, Page 5
by Alan Hodge alan@cfmedia.info
Mt. Holly athlete David Hostetler, 85, recently took part in the National Senior Olympics held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. By the time the games were over, Hostetler returned home with a chest full of medals and lots of great memories. “I played archery on June 14, 15, and 16 with the best in the USA,” Hostetler said. “We had winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60mph. Then we got rain and lightning and that stopped the flying arrows.” Hosteler says the weather improved for the second and third days of the archery competitions. See OLYMPICS, Page 2
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David Hostetler of Mt. Holly with the medals we won at the National Senior Olympics in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hostetler is also a veteran participant and medal winner in the Gaston County and NC State Senior Games. Photo by Alan Hodge