Mcadenvilles Christmas Lights

The Mcadenville Christmas lights are one of the most beautiful illuminations in all of Gaston County. This town is covered from head to toe in everything Christmas! This is where people got the name of calling it Christmas town USA. The first time I went through the Christmas light was on my sisters birthday, we rode in a limo that my mom had rented for us. We strolled through looking at all the cheery scenery while we listened to some Christmas music and drink hot cocoa. This is made into many family Christmas traditions for a lot of people, and riding in a car to look at the lights tend to back up everyone into a whole cluster of traffic. So now my family, friends, and I usually walk through the Christmas lights. Even though the weather outside is extremely chilly, we bundled ourselves and just take it one step at a time to take it all in. We pass by a few carolers and a hot cocoa stands. This I think is a much better way of enjoying the holiday season with your loved ones. 

Purple Planet 3D mini golf

The Purple Planet is located in Belmont that has 18 holes that you can putt putt your heat out. Not only does this place show off cool 3D effects and lots of neon colors, this place is also right next to The Haunted Mill. They have arcade games, pool tables, television, and they also hold parties for those who are having a birthday. The first time I came to this place was when it was my sisters 7th birthday, which was quite awhile ago. I also had my birthday here because, why not. This place was just amazing and the details to the art was awesome as well. I enjoyed going through each hole and just trying not to fall because the 3D was so intense. Even though The Haunted Mill was closed the time I went, there was a haunted mini golf course to go and try out. I would recommend having a birthday party here, or just coming for the fun of it, anyone will surely enjoy.  

Gastonia Grizzlies

The Gastonia Grizzlies are known as Gaston County's hometown team. They are a summer baseball team that play in the Coastal Plain  League. Home games take place at Buddy Lewis Field at Sims Legion Park. The mascot for the Gaston Grizzlies is Chizzle Grizzle. The Gastonia Grizzlies deliver various types of fun-filled family entertainment. The community of Gaston County embraces The Grizzlies as a big part of the community. The Grizzlies are most known for crazy and unique promotions such as Grandma Beauty Pageant, Dig for the Diamond, Salute to Underwear Night, Flatulence Fun Night and Midnight Madness Night. The Gastonia Grizzlies are constantly involving themselves in community activities and groups. While in town, the players spend their limited free time interacting with local children. The Grizzlies love to help out their community. They assist non-profit organizations throughout the region by either volunteering or donating items.

My very first Gastonia Grizzlies game was on June 20, while I was at Commissioners School. That day was Chizzle's Birthday Bash and Mascot Mania. When I heard we were going to a baseball game, I was expecting it to be boring since I don't watch baseball. I had a lot of fun and would love to go to another Grizzlies game. I remember looking up at the scoreboard and noticing a marriage proposal, it was really sweet. All the Commissioners School students had a shout-out and we had the opportunity to go in the field and do the Cupid Shuffle with Chizzle, the mascot. It was really great seeing the community come together. Chizzle was probably the best part of the game. He added some humor and amusement to the baseball game. I was introduced to a pizza burger, waffle burger, doughnut dog, and a doughnut burger at the game.

Fans are encouraged to take the Garbage Can Nachos Challenge. The Garbage Can Nachos includes three orders of nachos, a chopped hamburger patty, two chopped hot dogs, and an order of cheese steak. This is all covered with nacho cheese, chili, and Jalapeno peppers. Two glazed doughnuts are also placed on the side. This is all served on a clean garbage can lid. If you can eat the whole order in ten minuets, the team would pay for your nachos and your picture would be placed on the Wall of Fame.

Christmas Parade

I participated in this years Christmas Parade with the American Red Cross Youth. This was my very first time being part of a parade. It was a struggle trying to figure out the meeting place before the parade, but I eventually met up with the rest of the youth volunteers. For the most part we just walked, handed out candy canes, waved, and wished those we could a merry Christmas. It was very cold the day of the parade. So, by the time we got to the end I couldn't even feel my hands even though I wore gloves. I really enjoyed being in the parade though.I would definitely participate again next year. The Christmas parade brought together everyone in the community and it was really cool.

Schiele Museum of Natural History

Lizzy's Reflection

Going to the Schiele Museum was really fun. It kind of brought back some of my elementary school memories. Almost every year in elementary school we would take a trip to the Schiele . I enjoyed walking around and looking at the different exhibits. I also liked hearing about the different adaptations that the animals that were shown had developed. I never knew that toads had some poison inside them that they could use when they get eaten. So if they get eaten they could just hop back out after the animal that eat them dies from the poison.

Kayla's Reflection

As many times as I have been to the Schiele Museum, you kind of know your way around, and each time I have been it was basically the same. When we went on this field trip I was really amazed by how many new additions they have made since we had been last year. I loved looking at all the different animals and learning about each adaption all of them had. I also enjoyed exploring those new additions made to the museum such as the different animals across the world, and the roof top. Those monkeys were like the most hilarious things during the whole trip. I mean it was kind of cruel that people were scaring the monkeys and they were kind of freaking out, but come on....its not everyday you see a monkey flying at a window trying to attack you.

Kayla's Interviews

Interview #1- Robin Medlock 

I decided to interview Robin Medlock because she has lived in Gaston County for about 20 years. Not only is she a teacher at Lowell Elementary, but she was also my Kindergarten teacher. Her husband has lived in Gaston county all his life and Mrs. Medlock decided to move her because of the small town feel and tight nit community of people. She grew up in Charlotte and she stated that it was "always congested with traffic". Thinking that it would be a much better environment to raise kids she decided to stay in Gaston. She had many stories to tell about how, when her husband was still in school, that his principal would tell him to bring his hunting rifle to go hunting after school. She always stated that his "paw paw was the mayor at one time" in the town of Lowell. This, you can see, shows how close the people of Gaston County were and even today in the present. I asked her how has Gaston County how would you describe the people of Gaston County, she said that the people are, "well mannered, polite, friendly, and always willing to help kind of people." 

Original interview- 

Interview #2- Michelle Lynch

I decided to interview Michelle Lynch because she has been a family friend of mine for as long as I could remember. She has been living in Gaston County since she was a little kid, and worked as a child care provider for 7 years. I was one of the little kids she looked after at my old daycare when I was younger. She became a stay at home mom in 2005 and still is to this day. She has lived all over Gaston County such as Dallas, Lowell, Bessemer City, and is now living in the southern part of Gastonia. I asked her what was her greatest memories living in Gaston County, she stated that, "Many times she would go to Crowders Mountain...and now she gets to take her own children." Family means a lot to her, and she stated that, "having family here made me decide to keep living here." I then asked her how as Gaston County changed over the years and she stated that, "Gaston County has gotten a lot bigger since I was younger it was small and had a great drive in off of 74 when I was a kid now it's a big county with lots of great places and events to go to."

Link to original interview

Gaston Place

The day before Halloween, me and the American Red Cross team went to go visit veterans at the Gaston Place, which is a home for senior citizens. To show that we honor their services, we made little bags of candy and passed them out to the veterans.We went to each individual room and heard different stories about their time at war. They also told us a little about themselves and their family. It was really fun getting to know and meet some of the people staying at Gaston Place. Afterwards, it made me feel like I did a good deed because some of them didn't get many visitors. It brightened their day knowing that we did all of that for them.

                                                                                                                                                       

                                      

Lizzy's Interviews

Interview with Pastor Joe Bell

I decided to interview Pastor Joe Bell because he works in Gaston County. In middle school I volunteered at his church in a tutoring program. Mr.Bell is a man who was brought to Gastonia by chance. As he continued to live and work in Gastonia, he became very fund of the place. While living in Gaston County he meet people like L. Reeves McGlohon, the retiring school superintendent, and Richard Boyce, the retiring mayor from Belmont. In his first year of living in Gaston County Mr.Bell meet some great people from the community that he can now count and depend on. When asked what he liked best about Gaston County Mr.Bell gave the simple reply, "The people." From the words of Pastor Joe Bell Gastonia, "Is close enough to a big city that you can get anything you want, like in Charlotte: the ball teams and big things. But its small still. And you can get small town vibes."

Interview with Quamar Jones

I decided to interview Quamar Jones because she also works in Gaston County. She was my third grade teacher. After moving to Gaston County in 1997 to pursue a job as an elementary school teacher at Sherwood, Mrs.Jones has lived in the county for 17 years. She stated that, "Moving here and away from my family was hard but at the same time very rewarding because I'm doing what I love and that's teaching children." The people of the County were really welcoming ad Mrs.Jones felt that, "When they say people in the south open their doors they really do" For Mrs.Jones, the best part of living in Gaston County is that, "...the people who live here rally around one another in times of need whether good or bad." When asked what her personal favorite locations to visit were Mrs.Jones replied, "I like eating at Long Creek Fish Camp and Longhorn Steak House. I like shopping at Belks. My favorite place to eat dessert is at Cracker Barrel." This goes to show that Gaston County has a lot to offer, even to the new faces of the County.

Family Christian Center Back To School Health Fair

This year was my first year volunteering at the Family Christian Center Back To School Health Fair. I had a great time while I was volunteering. At the Health Fair different stations were set up ad people from the community came in to get free check ups. I worked at different stations. I helped check blood pressure, gave vision test, and also assisted those that came in. I meet some great people from the community. I hope to volunteer again.

 

City of Gastonia

Lizzy's Reflection

This wasn't exactly my favorite field trip, but it was okay. I enjoyed hearing about how Gastonia became a city. The original plan of a railroad company was to set their tracks around the Dallas area. However, the citizens didn't want the unwanted noise, so they decided to lay the tracks around what is now known as Gastonia. I also liked hearing about the future plans for Gastonia from the City Manager. I never knew that Jennie Stultz was elected the first female mayor of Gastonia. I also never knew that the present mayor was John Bridgeman. One thing I heard that was surprising was that the job of a mayor or a city council member was only part-time. The best part of the field trip was hanging out at the Zoe's Cafe. 

Kayla's Reflection

I really liked going to downtown Gastonia, and this trip was really interesting to me. Even though I have been to downtown a lot, I didn't really know any back stories to the different landmarks and history of how Gastonia came to be! The art museum was really neat, even though I've been there before, I saw that they put up new art.  We got to go inside one of the art studios and learn more about that artist. Going to Zoe's Cafe I think was the most fun of the trip because I learn what a cappuccino was. I liked that we got to stay inside the coffee house because it was so warm in there while outside was a different story. 

 

 

 

Gaston County Museum

Lizzy's Reflection

At the Gaston County Museum field trip, I learned some fascinating things about the Civil War. I never knew that women were used as spies during the war. A few women would also dress like men so that they ,too, could part-take in the war. One interesting fact that I learned was that women played a major role during the war. Women that served as nurses had to risk their lives to dive in and get the injured. Those nurses had a lot of bravery and courage to be able to withstand the gruesome and gory things of the Civil War.

 Like I mentioned earlier, some women may have disguised themselves as men so that they could fight in the war. Most of them were caught, but a few had the opportunity to fight alongside other men during the war. Women are often perceived as innocent and petite, however, during the Civil War women used this perception to their own advantage and became spies. It was really cool learning about the role women played during the war. I've always just thought women stayed at home and watched over things while the men went to fight.

One thing I learned about Gaston County was that it holds a lot history and that a lot of soldiers came from Gaston County hoping to find some adventure. My favorite part of the presentation was when the speaker explained the transformation of a regular citizen to a solder. He explained the clothing and training soldiers received before actually going to war. I would highly recommend this trip to others. It gives you a better understanding of the history of Gaston County and how the Civil War affected our county today. I wouldn't change anything about this field trip. I enjoyed every aspect of the trip.

Kayla's Reflection

The thing I took away from the Gaston County Museum is that it was hard living in the time of the Civil War. Men had to go to war and women I had to stay home and take over what was left to them. The most interesting would be learning that women during this time did actually have a big impact on the Civil War
I would never of thought that a woman would stand up and do something so courageous back in that day. Another thing that was interesting to me was that the Confederates all either wore clothes they already had or were ones that their mom made for them, and the Union had their clothes made by the government. This interested me because It was kind of a win-lose situation, the Union had better clothing so it enabled them to fight superior to the Confederates.

Something new I learned about Gaston County was that there is so much to learn out of the Hoffman Hotel. There ass crack was a picture of Gaston College in the old days and I thought that was cool. The Hoffman Hotel also had many people who lived in Gaston County almost all of their lives up on the wall, and it just shows how much history we have. My favorite part was when we got to explore the Hoffman Hotel for a little. It was impressive of all the artifacts that still remain in that hotel until today. I also like the gun shooting part, even though it failed poorly.

 I would recommend this field trip to others. This is because it has a lot of history to give away, and its good for others to learn about these things. I think this trip should be a part of the Discovering Gaston theme in the future! The only thing I can think of with changing the field trip would have to be lunch time. It was really difficult to find a place to sit and bugs kept crawling around, and certain people didn’t want to give other people ice for their drinks. I don’t do picnics, but other than that it was a fun trip to take.

Taste of Gaston

I volunteered at a booth with the American Red Cross Youth at the Taste of Gaston. Taste of Gaston is a great community event that is held by United Way of Gaston County. This community event is held yearly in downtown Gastonia. Different food vendors line up on one street and with a coupon book there are samples from the vendors offered. There is more to Taste of Gaston than food sampling. There is live music from local bands playing at the Pavilion all day. Taste of Gaston is also a kid-friendly event. Offers include face painting, clowns, balloons, corn hole, and a bouncy house. Local vendors also offered information and products. I enjoyed volunteering with the Red Cross at the Taste of Gaston and hope to attend next year as well.