INSIDE... Opinion ....................... 4A Obituaries ................... 5A Day Tripping ................ 6A Coal Ash ‘Risky’ .......... 7A Dixie Youth Tourney ..... 9A
Serving Belmont, Mount Holly, Stanley, Cramerton, and McAdenville | Volume 79 • Issue 27 • Wednesday, July 2, 2014
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At home in Mount Holly Monk says New Creation Monastery is a place ‘to be contemplative’ By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
BN File Photo
Fireworks, games, fun planned for July 3-6 Mount Holly events The City of Mount Holly will be holding a Red, White and Blue celebration. Included in the festivities will be their first fireworks display slated to take place July 3rd at Ida Rankin Elementary at dusk. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the show! The display should be visible to most of the Mount Holly area.
Belmont events The big Red, White,and Belmont event is coming to Stowe Park July 4-6. The schedule includes: July 4- 6:30-10:00pm Kids Inflatables in lower Stowe Park, $5 wristband includes these inflatables: 2 giant slides, bounce house, pitching machine for baseball, football, and soccer, basketball hoops game. 7:0010:00pm Friday Night Live concert on Main Street: Spontanes/Image: 6:00-10:00pm: Vendors: arts and crafts, merchandise, jewelry, home improvement, body care treatments, photography, and food: 10:00pm Fireworks show. July 5- 2:00-10:00pm Kids Inflatables in lower Stowe Park, $5 wristband includes these inflatables: 2 giant slides, bounce house, pitching machine for baseball, football, and soccer, basketball hoops game. DJ Buddy Love on the Stowe Park Gazebo Stage and the See FESTIVITIES, 7A
Gemini announces sale of Banner News Gemini Newspapers, Inc., Kings Mountain, parent company of the Belmont/ Mt. Holly Banner News, has announced the sale of the Banner News to Community First Media, Inc., of Shelby, effective June 27. Gemini acquired the Banner News along with The (Cherryville) Eagle and the Kings Mountain Herald in August 2008 from Republic Newspapers, Inc. of Knoxville, TN. Community First Media is the publisher of Shelby Shopper & Info and the Rutherford Weekly community newspapers. In announcing the sale, The Herald's co-owner,
Wendy Isbell said, "We have always believed that local newspapers should be locally-owned and are pleased to have continued that tradition here. I am confident the sale of the papers to another local owner will keep the quality of coverage up to the expectations of the community. These are very good newspapers staffed by people who care deeply about the communities and the people they cover." CF Media president Greg Ledford said, "We are excited to take on the challenge of preserving the unique charm and character of these newspapers while recognizing the need for complimentary growth. Our goal is to help our communities thrive and benefit through all our publications." Cribb, Greene & Associates of Charlottesville,Va. represented the company in the sale.
“I live in a church.” That's what Father John V. Hoover says about the bungalow he recently purchased on Madora St. in Mount Holly and it's pretty much the truth. After all, he calls it New Creation Monastery. Hoover, who is a Roman Catholic monk in the Camadolese Benedictine tradition and will turn 70-years-old in November, is a Charlotte native who has pastored churches in Newton, Clemmons, and Highlands for nearly two decades. He's moved to Mount Holly to enter a new phase in his life. “I have come here to be contemplative,” Hoover says. His new home is certainly a place for that. Beyond the cheery porch with its colorful potted flowers, the interior of Hoover's house is cool and relaxed. There is no widescreen TV or computer. Religious artwork abounds in the form of paintings, tapestries, carvings and other pieces he has collected over the years. The pieces are from all over the world including Mexico, Italy, England, Portugal, Japan, and Chile to name just a few locales. “Every piece has a story and is See MONK, 7A
Photo by Alan Hodge
Father John Hoover is seen on the porch of the house he recently purchased in Mount Holly. He is a monk in the Camaldolese tradition and spends his days in meditation and prayer.
A filmmaker in the making By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
There are some great filmmakers out there such as Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Spike Lee, and Billy Kaskay. What? Never heard of Kaskay? Well, given the fact that he has just produced and released his second indie film “Rae”, it's likely the 18-year-old, East Gaston High graduate from Stanley will one day make his own splash in Hollywood. Set to attend film, history, and English classes at Davidson College in the fall, Kaskay cut his filmmaking teeth while at East Gaston with the Civil War-based movie “A Nation Divided” that featured fellow students in the cast. From that venture, Kaskay's creative juices really began to flow and he set about producing “Rae”- once again featuring friends in the starring roles. The film centers around a girl with schizophrenia and her challenges. Kaskay says his work is a combination of Christian and horror genres. The leading role is acted out by Kaskay's friend, 17-year-old, rising East Gaston senior Claire Biggerstaff. Kaskay held a screening of Rae last week at Zoe's Coffee House in Gastonia, but intends to show it in other venues. “I plan to get in touch with churches and not only show the film but have discussions about it,” he said. “I am going to enter it in film festivals as well.” Another actress in the film, Katie James, described Rae and how it was to work with Kaskay as the director. “The movie upholds a lot of moral values,” she said. “As we made the film it was wonderful watching Billy create something over the course of a year.” In the coming months, Kaskay intends to release Rae on YouTube. A Nation Divided can already been seen on that outlet. So, what drives Kaskay to make movies? “It's a creative release,” he said. “I have a talent and it's important to touch people's lives with it.” Now that Rae has been released, what does Kaskay have in mind for his next flick? “I have a project in mind about two young souls traveling across the country,” he said. “It will be a very indie, hippie-type
History of trolleys in county dates back to 1912 By Alan Hodge alan.bannernews@gmail.com
Contributed photo
This is the poster for Billy Kaskay's latest film “Rae”. Kaskay just graduated from East Gaston High and will be attending Davidson College in the fall. thing. One of the actresses that will work with me is my friend Savannah Benfield.” Looking down the road, Kaskay sees his days at Davidson College as an excellent place to grow creatively and as a person. “The filmmaking facilities there are great,” he says. James agrees. “Once Billy gets in the college atmosphere he will find himself,” she said. “He has the drive to make things happen. He will excel as a filmmaker and in ten years be surprised at what he has accomplished.” For Kaskay, it all comes down to a simple principle. “It's all about being creative,” he says.
News that an electric trolley that would run between downtown Belmont and Belmont Abbey College, as well as a report in a recent edition of the Banner News concerning restoration of another trolley rescued from the woods in Virginia by Nathan Wells, has raised interest in the subject of what was once a standard mode of transportation in our area. The history of electric powered passenger trains in eastern Gaston County goes back to the early part of the 20th century. The story begins with the Piedmont Traction Company that established a route between Charlotte and Gastonia in 1912. The track electrified to 1,500 volts DC with power supplied from mainly hydroelectric sources. Additionally both segments were built to steam road standards. In 1914 the name was changed to Piedmont and Northern Railway, also known as P&N. The P&N tracks between Gastonia and Charlotte stretched for 24 miles. There was a three mile spur line to Belmont that operated from 1916 to the early 1930s. Other stops on the P&N between Gastonia and Charlotte included Mount Holly, North Belmont, McAdenville, Lowell, and Ranlo. See TROLLEYS, 7A
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