It wasn’t that long ago that the majority, not the minority in this country grew gardens for vegetables, canned the harvest and made homemade meals. We were healthier, even though more people smoked; we were thinner, though we consumed lard and butter; and few of us had heard of, let alone needed, mood enhancing drugs. Could it be that most of us had a sense of community, a sense of empowerment or connectedness that played a critical role in our wellness? Is it possible that food is at the center of all of this; that because we’ve been emancipated from the full food cycle that we were once profoundly tied to, we have lost our appreciation of the effort and value of home grown, home canned, home-cooked meals and in doing so, lost vital nutrients-the most important of which is human contribution? Read more…
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Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
I’m confident that most of us have been told that we need to change our attitude, haven’t we? Some of us probably have within the last hour.
The fact is that from time to time everyone needs to adjust their attitudes. Jimmy Buffett’s, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitude,” reminds us of six ways to do this. Read more…
Carolina Girl Best In The World Celebration 2010
The Belmont Merchant Association and ROCKS Entertainment Magazine with General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board presents the 1st Annual Carolina Girl Best In The World Celebration.
What makes a Carolina Girl? From all the response we received it is evident that a Carolina Girl is a State Of Mind.
To Read More on what a Carolina Girl is please go to • http://www.rocksmagazine.com/what-exactly-is-a-carolina-girl/
To Vote for the Carolina Girl please go to • http://www.rocksmagazine.com/carolina-girl-celebration/
Million Dollar Dog Self-Service Dog Wash
Million Dollar Dog’s Self-Service Dog Wash offers you a place to wash and groom your dog, while keeping the price down and the mess to a minimum!!
A Convenient, Low-Cost Alternative to Bathing at Home or Going to the Groomer
Many pet owners would agree that keeping the family dog clean can be a chore in itself, not to mention the messy clean-up afterwards. When the four-legged family member looks like something the cat dragged in or is trailing an odor reminiscent of yesterday’s garbage, what do you do? Read more…
Eating and Cooking Sustainably
By Kris Reid
Everyone is talking about sustainability these days.
It seems we are all subjected to messages of living “greener” through reading, watching and listening to more stories, messages, and marketing of how to “Go Green”. Increasingly people are recycling, bringing their own bags to the market, and also becoming more concerned of their carbon foot print. This shift has been in progress for many years, picking up momentum in the past decade. These changes are now becoming more than trends, they are slowly becoming the standard by which we live, as we collectively commit to changing our ways of thinking especially when considering our level of consumption. Read more…
“Play all day…and jam all night”
U.S National Whitewater Center
If you have not been to the U.S.
National Whitewater center lately,
you are missing out on some great fun! Only a short drive from Gaston County, the Whitewater Center is perfect for a family day trip or a last minute jaunt with friends. Thursdays and Saturdays are the days to go for great live music. For about the price of dinner and a movie, you can experience everything the Whitewater Center has to offer. Just relax and listen to some hot bands on the deck of the “Rivers Edge Bar and Grille” with a cold beverage and wonderful food. (Try the steamed soy beans, delicious!)
The biggest surprise is that you don’t need to have any experience to do any of the “fun stuff” out there. The guides will help you, and there is no real age restriction. Folks from 8 to 80 can climb rocks and rope, kayak, hike, bike, zip and rip down the water rapids. For more information on pricing and special events, check out their website. www.usnwc.org.
THE U.S. WHITEWATER PARK IS:
•A premier outdoor sports and recreation with LOADS of family activities.
•The WORLD’S LARGEST artificial whitewater river.
•4 years old. (2006)
•Operates a retail store (Outfitter’s Store), a restaurant (River’s Edge Bar & Grill), Grab ‘n Go, and a 2,400 foot Conference Center, and a variety of outdoor gathering spaces.
•A great value, with over 1.6 million visitors since 2006 and prices to fit any budget.
•Now MUCH easier to get to from Gaston County. (485 towards Statesville and follow the signs.)
If you are looking for fun, it’s in your own backyard at the U.S. Whitewater Center.
Habitat for Humanity of Gaston
Habitat for Humanity of Gaston is ending its year-long 20th Anniversary Celebration. This past May Habitat-Gaston built (side-by-side) their 20th Anniversary House and their first full renovation to mark 20 years of work in Gaston County. Members of the City of Gastonia Police Department, Gaston County Sheriff’s Office and Gastonia Fire Department volunteered all of the construction labor. Female employees of the Departments/Office volunteered their labor on May 5th as part of Habitat International’s Women Build Week.
An affiliate of Habitat International, Habitat-Gaston was founded in 1989. Johan Newcombe was the champion for the establishment of the local Habitat affiliate and its first volunteer president and executive director. She organized the construction of the first Habitat houses and was the major architect of the program in Gastonia. Becky Carter, former Executive Director of the Community Foundation, was the visionary who aspired to establish a Habitat affiliate in Gastonia. Both women devoted long hours and tremendous effort to build a broad constituency to advocate for the elimination of substandard housing in our community. Habitat-Gaston acknowledged the co-founders with their anniversary projects.
The 20th Anniversary House honors Mrs. Newcombe and the 20th Anniversary renovation honors Mrs. Carter. The homes are located in Gastonia’s Parkdale Neighborhood and were dedicated on Sunday, May 23.
Additionally Habitat-Gaston opened a Habitat ReStore, which accepts and resells donations of new and gently used items. The ReStore selection is vast and varied, from housewares to hardware; from bikes to building materials. Located on the Avon Street side of the Habitat-Gaston office building, the ReStore is Gaston County’s best kept bargain secret. Donating to the store is a green way to discard unneeded items. Purchases at the ReStore help Habitat build more homes.
Habitat for Humanity will persist in its efforts to provide safe, decent and affordable housing for low income families in Gaston County. Homeowner information meetings are held at the Habitat-Gaston office on the second Saturday of each month at 10 AM. Pre-registration is required.
There are a number of ways for the community to partner with Habitat-Gaston. Contact a Habitat-Gaston staff person, based on your level of interest.
Traveling Bargins Across The Country
One of the best senior travel bargains anywhere is a low-cost lifetime national park pass that admits seniors free of charge to most U.S. national parks, forests, refuges, monuments and recreation areas, from Denali National Park in Alaska to the Florida Everglades.
Senior Pass Eligibility
As part of the American the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass program, U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 62 years old can purchase a Senior Pass for a one-time processing fee of $10. This Senior Pass to national parks and lands offers benefits to you and your traveling companions.
Senior Pass to National Parks Benefits
• In National Parks that charge an entrance or standard amenity fee, the Senior Pass admits you and the passengers in your car or other private vehicle.
• In National Parks where a “per person” entrance fee is charged, the Senior Pass admits you plus three other adults (who need not be seniors). This is an especially good deal if you are also traveling with grandchildren, because children under 16 have free admission.
• The lifetime national parks Senior Pass also gives seniors a 50 percent discount on federal use fees charged for camping, swimming, boat launching, parking and tours.
• In some cases where use fees are charged, only the person named on the Senior Pass will be given the 50 percent discount.
• The senior pass is non-transferable and does not cover or reduce special recreation permit fees or concession fees charged by private companies.
How to Buy a National Parks Lifetime Senior Pass
The Senior Pass to national parks cannot be purchased by mail or online. It must be purchased in person at a federal area where entrance fees are charged, or at regional offices of the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Proof of age, such as a valid driver’s license, is required at the time you purchase your senior pass.
What’s Growing In Your Garden?
by Rosemary Pete
July is the time of year when you can sit back for a moment and enjoy the fruits of your labor. It’s also a pretty unpredictable month and depending on your climate, most gardeners have to play it by ear.
While there is no definite list of tasks to perform in the garden in July, one must keep a close eye on pests and diseases, and water often.
It doesn’t matter how much it rains in June or the earlier months, in July the rain tends to become pretty vague.
Deep watering is the most commonly used method of watering in these hot months; water
thoroughly and deeply each time and allow the soil to dry out in between watering.
In my garden I grow everything from Heirloom Tomatoes of all sizes to Sweet Genovese Basils.
My hopes are high each year as I plan on what to plant in the garden; I try to grow a little bit of everything. My tomato plants are outgrowing their tomato cages and even towering over me, while the beans are just reaching my chest and I hope to have a very late crop of them.
The bees are buzzing throughout the garden, pollinating the squash and cucumbers as they travel back and forth from the lavender plants to the basils. This year most of my vegetables will come in later then most people’s gardens. It will definitely pay off for me in the long run as I will have the main veggies most people wish they had still growing.
Happy Gardening!
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The Gastonia Grizzlies • More Than Just Baseball
Walking up to Sims Park, I was reminded of the 60 years of baseball that has been played here. Major league players like Andy Van Slyke, Sammy Sosa, Juan Gonzales, Ivan Rodriguez, and Tug McGraw have given fans here in Gastonia top level baseball for so many years, I wondered how the new kids would measure up to that elite company.
After walking into the beautifully manicured, classic style park, I caught a sweet smell that could only be one thing, the Grizzlies world famous doughnut burger. The sticky, sweet, greasy piece of heaven called a Krispy Kreme doughnut burger is Gastonia’s answer to the health nut crowd. I didn’t care if it was bad for me, I wanted one. Thank the good Lord for people who understand that it’s OK to mix good stuff together every now and then.
That person for the Grizzlies is their GM, Jesse Cole. I could give you his Bio, but that would not do him justice. Jesse is that unique guy who just flat “gets it.” He understands that good baseball is not the only reason people come to Sims Park. The ball game is only a part of the “Grizzlies experience.” When I first met Jesse, his eyes were darting around until he focused just off my left shoulder as he was distracted. “Excuse me” Jesse said, “I have to go make sure the players are dancing between innings.” “I’ll be back in a minute.” I turned around to see Jesse and 25 or so ball-players singing the “YMCA” dance song along with a couple thousand rabid Grizzlies fans, all singing in perfect harmony.
“People are looking to have fun, and that’s what we are trying to provide. I encourage creativity, focus, and caring among all my employees,” Cole said when I asked how the Grizzlies continue to set attendance records. “I learned that from Bill Veeck, the major league owner best known for having a midget on his baseball team.” As I watched the sun set from the deck in left field, I suddenly thought of the baseball movie classic, “Field of Dreams.” “Was this Heaven?” I thought to myself. Then I looked over my shoulder and saw Jesse Cole splashing around in the giant dunk tank, hundreds of kids and adults smiling and laughing as he dared them to throw a strike. Yep, the Gastonia Grizzlies are in good hands.
Rock on Grizzlies!
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Brian Anderson: Great article! It puts everything in perspective....
darrylrocks: Susan, Please call me @ 704-685-7011 or email me @ darryl@rocksmagazi...
Brian Anderson: GREAT team and vision! Happy Dog Cafe is proud to be a charter adverti...
Hollie Hendricks: The date is not shown here....the performance will be this Thursday, J...
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