News and Updates

Dr. David Layne is shown with information on direct primary care (DPC). 

Landmark MD office is in the Stowe Building in Belmont 

Landmark MD, an innovative direct primary care medical practice in Belmont, sponsored the Montcross Area Chamber Board of Director’s lunch with U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry on Aug. 6, 2018, and Dr. David Layne made a presentation before the congressman spoke on a new national Opportunity Zone program. (See related story on Opportunity Zones.) 

Dr. Layne, who founded Riverwood Medical Associates of Gastonia in 1993, adopted the direct primary care model and opened a new office in Belmont’s Stowe Building three years ago. In direct primary care, the patient pays his or her physician directly, resulting in less time and money spent on insurances, leaving more time for the physician to focus on the patient. 

Landmark MD members pay monthly fees of $50 to $75, with a family maximum of $150. The fee covers a broad range of services such easy and fast access to care, unlimited office visits, annual physicals, routine lab and office procedures and more. 

The Landmark MD office is at 100 N. Main St., Belmont, NC 28012. For more information, call 704.461.8111, or visit www.landmarkmd.com.

Tripp McLean cutting ribbon with members of his family and staff, Belmont Mayor Charlie Martin and Chamber members, including Board Chair Elect Shannon Thomas of Creative Solutions Special Events holding the ribbon at left, with 2018 Board Chair Carey Roberts of Carer Roberts Design. In the photo at right below, are Tripp McLean, left, with his father Les McLean and staff members of McLean Self Storage.

Ask about the "Refer A Friend" discount program

Chamber members and friends helped owner Tripp McLean and his family and staff celebrate the grand opening of McLean Self Storage on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. The new storage center is at 1322 South Point Road in Belmont. 

McLean Self Storage features 400 units from 5 X 5 feet to 10 X 30 feet, all behind a brick facade and monitored by 16 high-quality security cameras. About 70 percent of the units are temperature controlled with dehumidifiers. McLean Self Storage also offers RV and boat storage from 20 to 40 feet. 

Cherubs Cafe provided food for the grand opening, which attracted a large turnout of Chamber members and friends to welcome the new business to the Chamber and the community. Drop by and ask about the "Refer A Friend" policy, which can earn a new customer 50% off on first month's rent and a $25 credit for a current customer who refers a new customer. 

For more on McLean Self Storage, call 704.825.0669.

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Anatomywise owners Karen Kleiner and Karena Thek cut the ribbon with family members, Mount Holly city officials and Chamber members.

Former Miss NC, who has scoliosis, makes appearance

People are coming to Mount Holly from around the country for scoliosis therapy camps and one-on-one sessions at the new Anatomywise Scoliosis and Spine Center. The center is 115 N. Main Street, suite 212. 

Owners Karen Kleiner and Karena Thek, founder of Scolio-Pilates, celebrated their new Mount Holly location with an open house and Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 10, 2018. The Montcross Area Chamber and Gaston Regional Chamber partnered on the ribbon cutting. Catering was provided by Chamber member H&M Catering of Mount Holly.

Read the entire magazine online

Local children at the Cotton Candy Factory, a Holy Angels business in Belmont, made the cover of the latest Chamber Welcome magazine. Photo by Dodie Huffman of Image Source and Allure Wedding Photography. The photo below shows all previous covers of the Chamber's annual guide, which is published by Debbie Cole's Biz Well Corp.  

Cover features the Cotton Candy Factory in Belmont

A new edition of the Montcross Area Chamber's Visitor & Newcomer Welcome Guide hit the streets today, featuring a cover photo made at the Cotton Candy Factory in Belmont. Copies will be delivered this week to advertisers, city halls, the Gaston County Visitor Center and other locations. Magazines are available now at the The Cotton Candy Factory, Cherub's Cafe and at the Chamber office in the Stowe Building at 100 N. Main St., Belmont.

The cover photo, made by Dodie Huffman of Image Source and Allure Wedding Photography, shows Cotton Candy Factory staff member Erin Shepard helping four children spin their own cotton candy. Children in the photo are Eleana Khoury, Patrick Ian Khoury, Vaughn Nguyen and Liam Nguyen.

This is the 11th annual edition of the welcome guide, all published by Chamber member Debbie Cole's Biz Well Corporation. Thank you to the 57 advertisers whose support made the magazine possible and to Chamber member ImageMark Business Services for printing the 60-page, full-color publication.

Copies will be available free throughout the next 12 months for visitors and newcomers and long-time residents, who also find them useful.

Read the entire magazine online.

1st-place team Chick-fil-A of Belmont, from left, Lee Dorn, Tommy Belcher, Jr., Benny Bowles, Tony Gilbert, with Donnie Loftis, chairman of the Board of Directors at presenting sponsor CaroMont Health. In the small photo below, is 3rd-place team Choice USA, with Greg Simmons, Craig Kinlaw, Rush Miller and Blake Bradshaw. 

CaroMont Health presenting sponsor for tournament

For the second time in five years, the Chick-fil-A of Belmont team took first-place honors at the Montcross Area Chamber Annual Golf Tournament at Cramer Mountain Club on June 21, 2018. CaroMont Health was the presenting sponsor. Chick-fil-A also won the tournament in 2014. The Chick-fil-A foursome this year included Tony Gilbert, Lee Dorn, Tommy Belcher, Jr. and Benny Bowles.

Finishing in second place was the MadVapes team of Bryan Hough, Chuck Newman, Kevin Collier and Wayne Kinley. Choice USA took third-place with the team of Greg Simmons, Craig Kinlaw, Rush Miller and Blake Bradshaw.

Also taking home trophies were: Rose Cook of the Carolinas HealthCare team for women’s longest drive; Lee Dorn of Chick-fil-A for men’s longest drive; and the three winners on closest to the pin holes were Lee Dorn and Benny Bowles of Chick-fil-A and Chuck Tomlinson of Carolinas HealthCare.

At the awards lunch, which was sponsored by Hillbilly’s BBQ, Chamber President Ted Hall thanked the players and sponsors, the donors of prizes and good bag items and the dozens of volunteers who helped with tournament preparations and at the course on the day of the event.

Donnie Loftis, chair of the CaroMont Health Board of Directors, spoke on behalf of the major sponsor and presented trophies to the winners.

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Taking 2nd-place was the MadVapes team of Bryan Hough, Kevin Collier, Chuck Newman and Wayne Kinley.   

At the announcement in Mount Holly City Hall, are (from left) Gaston EDC Board Chairman Robert Browne, Mount Holly Hotel CEO Charles Saleh, Mount Holly Council member Carolyn Holbrook Breyare, Mayor Pro Tem Perry Toomey, County Commissioner Don Grant, City Manager Danny Jackson and Wes Bawab and Jay Kamdar of Mount Holly Hotel. 

Late 2019 opening projected for 91-room hotel  

A new 91-room hotel in Mount Holly was announced on Monday and ground was broken just off Highway 273 on Caldwell Drive at I-85 exit 27. Mount Holly LLC and Marriott International will construct the Fairfield Inn and Suites, beginning immediately. 

The new hotel, which will include meeting rooms, will mean 61 new jobs when in full operation, which is anticipated in late 2019.  “We are excited about our future at this new location in Mount Holly” said Charles Saleh, Wes Bawab and Jay Kamdar of Mt. Holly Hotel LLC. “Our company has a wonderful relationship with Marriott International and Midas Hospitality LLC to insure that our guests will have the very best lodging experience." 

The hotel executives were joined at the announcement and groundbreaking by Mount Holly City officials, Gaston County officials and representatives of the Gaston County Economic Development Commission.

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Mount Holly Hotel officials  joined by (from left) Gaston County Commission Chairman Chad Brown, Gaston EDC Chairman Robert Browne, County Commissioner Don Grant and Mount Holly City Council member Carolyn Holbrook Breyare at the groundbreaking for the new Fairfield Inn & Suites. 

Artists who displayed their work, entertained and demonstrated at the event. In the smaller photo below, Mount Holly Mayor Bryan Hough welcomes the crowd with Gaston Arts Council Director Kim George.

Arts and business communities blend well together

Music, art, barbecue and business networking blended together beautifully in Mount Holly’s Tuckaseege Park on Thursday, June 14, 2018, in an event sponsored by Gaston Arts Council. GAC Executive Director Kim George dubbed the combination “Art In The Park Meets Network After Work.”

Six local artists were on site under tents to display and in some cases demonstrate their work. Singer, composer, songwriter and musician Chloe Olivia performed. Barbecue chicken and pork was served with all of the trimmings from the Soul Food truck.

Mount Holly Mayor Bryan Hough welcomed the crowd, and Recreation Superintendent Mark Jusko talked about Tuckaseege Park and its facilities and greenway on the banks of the Catawba River.

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Artist Heidi Schmidt of Anchored Soul (center) with Chris Cole and Jennifer Church.