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Volume 115 • Issue 35
75¢
Wednesday, September 1, 2021
YMCA’s After School program helps kids reach their potential
CITY: Downtown water and sewer work continues; Main Street projects up next
by MICHAEL E. POWELL
City staff asks everyone be patient during this process
Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Gaston County YMCA spokesperson Molly D’Avria noted in a recent media release they are starting After School programs in various YMCA’s across the county. Noted D’Avria, “A new school year is filled with potential – a chance to start new routines and habits, build new friendships and discover new possibilities and interests. It’s an exciting time for many kids, however – at the end of the school day, one in five children do not have someone to care for them after school, according to Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness organization. As families are transitioning from summer to fall, the Gaston County Family YMCA is offering programs to schoolaged children throughout Gaston County to keep youth active, busy and engaged during out-of-school time. “Through a well-rounded approach to youth development, the Y’s programs offer activities in a caring and safe environment during the critical hours after school. Whether through sports, mentorship, or academic support, the Y nurtures the potential of youth throughout the school year.” Hailey Hudson, Youth Program Director agreed, adding, “Over 11 million children are unsupervised
between 3 and 6 p.m., an essential time to help increase children’s success in school. Afterschool at the Y is a fun and safe option for children after school ends each day. They get an opportunity to be active, work on their homework, and have a little fun with friends.” Cherryville Family YMCA Accounts Payable manager, Sandy Homesley, noted YMCA Director Sharon Padgett and Josey Messer will be over all of the After School programs. Both Homesley and Butch Boyd, the Cherryville Family Membership Coordinator, said their trained staff strive to create an environment that supports the needs of Cherryville’s children. Boyd added, “We are following the CDC’s requirements for a safe environment for our children and staff.” Homesley noted the After School Program for Cherryville’s Family YMCA this year is at Mount Zion Baptist Church with the times starting at after school dismal (roughly 2-2:30 to 3 p.m.) until 6 p.m. She added they are open Monday through Friday. Crystal Baugham will be over the program at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, said Homesley. D’Avria said, “The ‘Y’ is a leading nonprofit committed to nurturing the potential of every child and teen, See YMCA, Page 2
City of Cherryville Fire Department Push-In Ceremony The public is invited to participate in the launch of new fire apparatus on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 as the City of Cherryville and the Cherryville Fire Department install the new fire engine in a traditional Push-In Ceremony. This will take place right after the City’s 2021 911 Remembrance Ceremony, which starts at 9 a.m., also at the CFD Station House on Hwy. 150/W. Church Street. Anyone with an appreciation of the lore of firefighting and state-of-the-art equipment should be inter-
ested in attending the ceremony. Refreshments and opportunities to conduct walkaround tours of the vehicle, the cab, and compartments. It will be held at the Cherryville Fire Department, 411 East Church St., Cherryville, at 10:15 a.m., Friday, Sept. 10. Members of the public are invited to join Mayor H.L. Beam, Fire Chief/ City Manager Jeff Cash and other Fire Department personnel, and members of the City Council for this event. COVID-safe protocols will be observed. For more information contact Brittany Bingham by emailing her at bbingham@cityofcherryville. com, or calling her at (704)435-1730.
by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Construction work on the City’s sewer lines is still on-going, said City Manager Jeff Cash recently, even though it appeared the workers had left. “They were only tidying up for the weekend,” noted Mr. Cash last Friday afternoon, adding, “This is an 18- to 24month project, from start to finish, and it will continue, depending on the weather and materials, until the project is finished. They are moving along well.” Last week, the Cherryville’s Paul Czerr and his company were seen doing
Cherryville’s Paul Czerr Construction Company help the city staff to install a by-pass line in Mountain Street. (photos by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media) some work over on Mountain St. in front of the old BB&T building, but Public
Works Director Brandon Abernathy said they (Czerr Construction) were “…
helping City Staff to install a by-pass line in Mountain See CITY, Page 2
Redone JCMS courtyards ready for new tables; furniture Principal’s vision for the two areas coming together but they’re not yet where he wants them by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
Now that John Chavis Middle School Principal Matt Rikard and his staff are back at the business of teaching students, he wanted to revisit a project that is near and dear to the head Wolverine’s heart – their newly redone courtyards. In a recent Eagle article Rikard and crew talked about the state of each of See JCMS, Page 2
This is a photo of the almost finished Big Courtyard, off the library at JCMS. (photos provided)
Gaston Schools’ Superintendent Booker makes first day of school rounds by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info
On Monday, Aug. 23, as many thousands of Gaston C o u n t y School students and DR. W. their teachJEFFERY ers were BOOKER e n j o y i n g Gaston County their first Superintendent of Schools day back to
school, Todd Hagans, Chief Communications Officer for Gaston County Schools noted the school superintendent was doing the same. In a recent media release, Hagans said, “Superintendent of Schools Dr. W. Jeffrey Booker spent the first day (Monday, Aug. 23) stopping by schools to greet students and staff. He started at W.A. Bess Elementary in Gastonia where he talked to several teachers, observed students settling into first- and second-grade classrooms, and
welcomed a group of kindergarteners to school for the very first time. By lunchtime, Booker had visited seven schools.” Said Dr. Booker, “It was great seeing the students arrive at school this morning. Everyone was positive and upbeat and ready to begin a brand-new school year. We know that we will face challenges this year because the pandemic is ongoing, but our hope is that this school year will be as normal as possible for students and teachers.”
He continued, “The first day of school is a time when the slate is wiped clean, and everyone gets a fresh start. Our teachers are prepared to help students build on what they learned and accomplished last year, and they are going to do everything they can to make sure our students grow and thrive in the year ahead.” Hagans noted Dr. Booker said he wanted to thank the teachers and parents for all See BOOKER, Page 2
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