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Volume 84 • Issue 35
Thursday, August 30, 2018
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• Belmont • Cramerton • Lowell • McAdenville • Mount Holly • Stanley
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Cramerton working on bicycle use plan by Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
“It's a very forward-looking project.” That's what Cramerton's planning director Josh Watkins had to say about the plan to establish a network of bicycle-friendly routes and and trails in and around the town. The idea to make Cramerton a place where folks could ride bikes for transportation and recreation goes back a couple of years, but a newly completed 139-page study on the subject has really gotten things rolling in that direction. It was created in response to a request from the NCDOT for pedestrian and bicycle grant applications. It was funded through the North Carolina Department of Transportation Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. The plan was crafted by a steering committee, town officials, and citizen input. AECOM Technical Services of North Carolina was the consultant. The steering committee came up with the following vision statement -“The Town of Cramerton will be a place accessible to bicyclists of all ages, abilities, and diverse backgrounds with convenient access to bicycle facilities and programs that promote: active living and well being, safety, connectivity, and celebration and discovery of Cramerton’s rich culture and history.” Watkins says the plan will be presented on Sept. 6 to the Gaston County Board of Commissioners for their approval. Watkins says that would give the plan extra credibility
when it comes time to apply for other grants. Watkins is eager to get the wheels turning on making the plan a physical reality. “We don't want it to sit on the shelf,” he said. “The goal is to have the plan in place in a year or two.” The plan offers a number of ideas for making Cramerton a safe and fun place to bike. “Projects include shared lane markings and bicycle lanes,” the plan reads. “Linear facility recommendations emphasized connections between downtown Cramerton outward to locations like the Market Street shopping plazas and neighboring Belmont. Key corridors for linear facilities include the following: Eighth Avenue connecting downtown to Market Street and Eagle Road connecting to neighboring Belmont. A bicycle lane is recommended for the east side of Eighth Avenue while sharrows are recommended for the west side. Along Eagle Road, it is recommended sharrows be added with bike lanes to follow if the roadway is widened. Sharrows were also recommended along Market Street and Mayflower Avenue.” Watkins believes riders could use their bikes not just for recreation, but for other purposes as well. “They could ride to the shops and restaurants in the downtown area,” he said. “We want to offer residents as many types of transportation as possible. If more people ride bikes, it would mean less cars on the road.” Cramerton is already a popular spot for No matter what the season, more and more bicyclists are finding Cramerton a great place to cyclists. See BICYCLE page 2 ride. Gaston County Cyclist photo
Mount Holly Strategic Vision Update focuses on core values
They call me Dosi
By Mary Smith Since last fall, the Mount Holly Strategic Vision Plan Project Team, working in conjunction with Arnett Muldrow & Associates have been working diligently analyzing the results from the nearly 550 completed surveys and incorporating feedback based on meetings with citizens, local business owners, and community organizations. The Strategic Vision Plan Update project has its roots in the Vision Process of 2003 that laid the framework of many of the City’s accomplishments over the past decade. With the recommendations of citizens, staff, Advisory Committee, PlanSee VISION page 4
Young Dosi and his mom Donna when he was playing for the Stanley youth baseball team. Jonas family photos
See Page 9
By Art Shoemaker Matthew Theodhos Jonas came to America as an eighteen month old boy from his native country of Vlora, Albania. A young lady from Stanley, Donna Jonas, had considered adopting a child. Marriage was not in her plans, however, she had a strong desire to enjoy and provide a good Christian home life for a youngster. After much prayer, thought, study and guidance Donna made the decision to begin the adoption process. Donna was aware of an adoption agency called Southern Piedmont Adoptive Families Association that deals in international adoption and that was the direction she chose for adoption. The adoption process took about 13 months and the adoption agency had a formula to determine her eligibility for adopting a child. Issues such as health checks, home studies and countless hours of filling out required forms were necessary. After all of these requirements were met Donna was put in touch with International Children’s Alliance in Washington, D.C. This agency sent Donna videos of several children from various countries. When she viewed the video of Dosi she knew that this was the child that God had chosen to be her son. In September of 2001, Donna and her dad, Bud Jonas, flew to Albania to meet Dosi and to begin the legal part of the adoption process. They were fortunate on this trip to meet some missionaries who helped them through customs and other issues to enter Albania. See DOSI page 3
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