News and Updates

Chris Shaw is cutting the ribbon with his wife Julie and sons Thomas and Bryan. Also representing CJS Wealth Management, from left, are Jim Moseley, Judy Capps and Christopher Dickerson, with Montcross Area Chamber President Ted Hall, and holding the ribbon (left) Sarah Vingoe of A. McIntyre Law and Melissa Smith of Clearbrook Advisory Services. 

Owner Chris Shaw cuts ribbon at reception

Owner Chris Shaw celebrated the opening of CJS Wealth Management in downtown Belmont with a reception and Chamber ribbon cutting on April 17, 2018. CJS Wealth Management is located in the Stowe Building at 100 N. Main Street, Belmont. CJS Wealth Management has been serving clients’ retirement and wealth management needs since 2010. “Building and maintaining strong client relationships is what our organization prides itself on,” Chris said. “And that mission continues to be at the center of who we are as a company.” For more on CJS Wealth Management  call 704.413.4073, or visit www.cjswealthmanagement.com. 

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The Lunch & Learn crowd overflowed the private meeting room and was moved to the main Rivermen dining area. When Guy Flemming talks networking, he gets really into his subject, as you can tell from the photo below.

Networking guru Guy Flemming presented the program

The opportunity to learn tips to improve networking skills brought a large group of Chamber members and friends to a Lunch & Learn event on April 17, 2018, at Rivermen Brewing in Belmont. Guy Flemming of Dignity Memorial, who is well known here for his professional approach to networking, presented the program. Lunch & Learn is a new Chamber monthly program coordinated by Dodie Huffman of Image Source. Watch the Chamber event calendar at www.MontcrossAreaChamber.com for details on the location and program for the next Lunch & Learn.

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McLean representatives Burt Philips and Ann Davis (left) with builders, including Doug McSpadden of McSpadden Custom Homes (center) and Chamber representatives (right) President Ted Hall and Board Chair Carey Roberts of Carey Roberts Design.  

McLean features 3 distinct neighborhoods and about 850 homes  

The lure of a gorgeous spring evening and the poolside setting at the spectacular McLean South Shore Residents’ Club overlooking Lake Wylie drew more than a hundred Chamber members and friends to the Network After Work reception hosted by McLean on Lake Wylie on April 12, 2018. 

McLean is taking shape along five miles of Lake Wylie shoreline in southern Belmont and will total more than 850 homes in three neighborhoods: South Shore, The Conservancy and Overlake. Of the 670 total acres in McLean, more than 100 acres have been reserved for public parks, community ponds, residents’ clubs and walking trails.

McLean representative Burt Philips provided an update on recent progress in all three neighborhoods and introduced the McLean sales team as well as several of the builders including Doug McSpadden of Chamber member McSpadden Custom Homes. Catering for the event was provided by Chamber member The String Bean.

Networking After Work takes place at least once each month at a member location to provide opportunities to make business connections and to learn about fellow member businesses. 

For more information on McLean, call 980.949.0723, or visit www.discovermclean.com. 

Holy Angels CEO Regina Moody (right) and art teacher Jeaniene Dibble help Holy Angels resident Cheryl, whose art is exhibited in Bliss Gallery, cut the ribbon at the grand opening ceremony.   

Gallery another vocational outreach of Holy Angels 

A big crowd of Chamber members and other Holy Angels supporters were on hand to help celebrate the opening of Bliss Gallery in downtown Belmont with a Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 12, 2018. The gallery, which is at 25 N. Main Street, is affiliated with Holy Angels, and its mission is to offer persons with intellectual developmental disabilities the opportunity to enhance their vocational skills, develop their creative abilities and showcase their art alongside the works of local artists. The gallery is next door to Cherubs Café in the space formerly occupied by Cherubs Candy Bouquets. The candy bouquets still are available at Cherubs Café and Bliss Gallery, but are being made now at Cherubs Market in Cramerton. The gallery will feature the art of Holy Angels residents and other local and regional artists. For more information on Bliss Gallery, call 704.280.9475.

Montcross Area Chamber Board members demonstrate their support for the school bonds and the additional sales tax to pay for them during a recent meeting.  

Vote to support Our Children, Our Future on May 8 ballot 

Gaston County voters will have an opportunity vastly to improve the futures for our children by voting to support two measures on the May 8 primary election ballot. One provides for bond funding to build three new schools and to expand, renovate and repair the older school buildings in the Gaston County public school system. The second measure authorizes a small additional sales tax to help repay the bonds. 

At it's March meeting, the Montcross Area Chamber Board of Directors adopted a resolution of support for both proposals. The capital needs of the schools in Gaston County total $650 million. The bond package proposed now will address only the most urgent needs providing for $250 million over the next seven to 10 years. 

The school bond and sales tax issues were the subjects of the Chamber’s recent Business Buzz breakfast program. County Schools Superintendent Jeff Booker spoke on the $250 million bond referendum, and County Manager Earl Mathers addressed the additional quarter-cent sales tax. 

EARLY VOTING STARTS April 19 and continues through May 5 at these locations:

Gaston Board of Elections, 410 W. Franklin Blvd, #30, Gastonia, NC 28052

Citizens Resource Center, 1303 Dallas-Cherryville HWY, Dallas, NC 28034

Mt. Holly Citizens Center, 400 E. Central Ave., Mount Holly, NC 28120

HOURS & MORE DETAILS

Use the following links to access more information on the proposals:

Gaston County Schools website: www.gaston.k12.nc.us/SchoolBonds2018.

Our Children, Our Future Bond Referendum Committee website: www.voteyesgcsbonds.com.

Committee Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GCSBonds2018/?ref=br_rs 

Gaston County Board of Elections: http://www.gastongov.com/government/departments/elections/index.php  

 Chamber Resolution in Support of Bonds & Sales Tax 

Sample Ballot for Bonds & Sales Tax Issues 

Chamber Board Chair-Elect Shannon Thomas introducing speakers at breakfast. 

Chamber Board urges voters to approve both primary ballot issues

A $250 million school bond package won't cover half of the school building needs in Gaston County, but that's all the county can afford to allocate at this time, Montcross Area Chamber members and friends were told at a Business Buzz breakfast program today sponsored by CaroMont Health. The system's total capital needs for new schools, expansions, repairs and renovations is $650 million. 

Gaston County Schools Superintendent Jeff Booker spoke about the bond proposal, and County Manager Earl Mathers made a presentation on the need for an additional quarter-cent local sales tax to pay for the bonds. Both issues will be on the ballot during the May 8 primary election.

Of the $250 million, $110 million will be used to build three new schools, one of which will be a new Belmont Middle School. $25 million will go to classroom additions, media center and cafeteria expansions and renovations to serve a growing student population. $115 million in repair and maintenance projects will be funded for schools in all six Gaston County townships. If approved, the projects will be completed over the next 7 to 10 years.  

MACC Board Chair-Elect Shannon Thomas of Creative Solutions Special events told the group the Chamber Board has adopted a resolution of support for the bonds and the additional sales tax. She pointed out the Chamber also supported the last school bond proposal in Gaston County for $175 million, which passed overwhelmingly in 2007.

CLICK HERE for a video and complete details on the school bonds. 

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Gaston Schools Superintendent Jeff Booker (left) and County Manager Earl Mathers.