Cherryville Eagle 2-9-22

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Wednesday, February 9, 2022

CHS Spanish teacher stirs interest in students with self-made videos “El Dedo Rojo” one in a long line of neat teaching tools/ productions by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info

By day, he is mild-mannered CHS Spanish teacher Matt Smith; by, well, also by day (mostly), he is the Spanish James (or is it Diego?) Bond – Spanish-speaking superspy “Mateo”, whose wit (and golf score) are seldom equaled, because, I mean, who wants to anyway? Seriously folks, CHS Spanish teacher Matt Smith puts a great deal of effort into making learning fun for his students, as do many of his teaching peers. Smith does this by making mostly quick and short iPhone videos for their perusal and enjoyment. Such was the case with his newest – and possibly longest – endeavor to date, a campy, roughly 23-plus minute “remake” (of sorts) of the Ian Fleming classic James Bond thriller, “Goldfinger”. The mini-masterpiece, titled “El Dedo Rojo”, or “Red-

All the principal actors in attendance at the movie premiere of “El Dedo Rojo”, from left to right: Timmy Flemming (a.k.a. Orange Crush), Jason Wofford (a.k.a. Redfinger), Matt Smith (a.k.a. Mateo) and Maria Ellis (who plays Mateo’s caddy). (photo provided) finger”, for short (and artistic purposes) is a video idea, said Smith recently, whose filming “…was really generated during the pandemic.” Smith, 48, has been teaching for 20 years after a stint in the business world up near Raleigh. The father of two said, “Last year, on our virtual days I would film mini 'virtual lectures’ and post

them to my Canvas page. These started out as purely instructional, pretty much me explaining Spanish grammar concepts, but I couldn’t help but notice that I got more views from students if I put a little comedy in the lectures. “So, it then occurred to me to recruit other Cherryville teachers/staff to help act out little skits revolving around

these instructional concepts. Again, those started off pretty simple, for example, Robert Webb and I did a bit about a piece of macaroni stuck to the inside of the teacher lounge microwave (we were studying Spanish foods at the time). Gradually, these skits became more elaborate – I’d throw in some edited images, perhaps a little music.

CHS Spanish teacher (and now amateur filmmaker), Matt Smith, in action, teaching one of his Spanish classes. (photos by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media) “Well, it came as no surprise by then that with the better quality videos the number of students watching them went up as well. Now, I should point out that all of these videos were filmed with an iPhone, not professional movie equipment, so we had limitations. Still, I decided that for my final video of last year, CHS staff and I would

act out an entire restaurant scene – I got eight different staff members to appear in that one, which was approximately eight minutes long. The skit supposedly centers around a Scrabble grudge match that (the CHS media center’s) Nancy Olls were having, but the real purpose was for the teachers and I to See VIDEOS, Page 3

Grandfather Mountain’s Wilson Center for Nature Discovery nears completion Stewardship foundation celebrates success of “Fulfilling Promises” capital campaign Grandfather Mountain is widely known for its lofty heights, offering guests a breathtaking vantage point to the natural world. But with the forthcoming opening of the park’s brand-new Wilson Center for Nature Discovery, guests’ experience on the mountain will soar above and beyond the Mile High Swinging Bridge. The new facility is officially “under roof” and is expected to open in spring 2022. Under construction since fall 2019, the Wilson Center – part of an all new Conservation Campus – will nearly double the size of the park’s current Nature Museum with 10,000 square feet of education space, including state-ofthe-art museum exhibits,

Volunteer Wendy Whisnant and DHHS employee and manager of the Cherryville site, Carrie Meier, outside the school, braving the cold to give out N95 masks and COVID home test kits. The masks and kits went quickly, noted the two. (photo by MEP/The Eagle/CF Media)

Grandfather Mountain’s forthcoming Wilson Center for Nature Discovery is officially under roof and is expected to open in spring 2022. (photo by Frank Ruggiero/Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation) three classrooms, restoration of the ADA-accessible auditorium, enhanced food service facilities to allow for catering and serving educational groups, and expanded capacity for hosting conferences, seminars, receptions and community events. Outside the center, guests will enjoy new outdoor learning spaces, including an amphitheater with terraced seating and a pavilion, as well as a new botanical garden. In turn, the park will be

able to offer an expanded, mile-high slate of programming opportunities for audiences and participants of all ages. “It’s been a long time in the making,” said Jesse Pope, president and executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Linville, N.C., nature park. “To see this come to fruition is a dream come true for me, and it’s something See WILSON, Page 2

Cherryville Elementary is one of 10 Vaxathon locations County’s health department partners with other medical providers to host Saturday, Feb. 5 events by MICHAEL E. POWELL Editor michael@cfmedia.info

Cherryville Elementary was one of the 10 Gaston County Public Health Department’s locations for Saturday’s Feb. 5 first Gaston County Vaxathon. In a media release last

week from Gaston County Public Information Officer Adam Gaub, it was noted the Gaston County Public Health Department worked “…with pharmacies, healthcare providers and other community partners to host the first Gaston County Vaxathon” on that day. Noted Mr. Gaub then in his release, “This event is for residents 5-and-up to receive their initial COVID vaccine or a booster dose. Boosters are highly encouraged for everyone if it has been at least 5 months since the Moderna or Pfizer

second dose or two months since the Johnson & Johnson shot. No appointment is needed and 10 different locations across the county will be participating in the event.” He further stated that, in addition to the vaccines, “a limited supply of N95 masks and at-home COVID-19 rapid tests will be available for distribution on a first-come, first-served basis.” At the Cherryville Elementary location, DHHS spokesperson Cherryville’s See VAXATHON, Page 2

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