Page 10 - CROSSROADS - January, 1972
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The arrival of Santa Claus Brings Smiles To Guests and Children.
TKE Gives Party
For Children
On December 3, 1971, the
Brothers of the Theta Beta
Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon
Fraternity closed out their
semester’s activities by holding
their Tenth Annual Children’s
Christmas Party. Each child
received refreshments and gifts..
Optimistic children tells Santa their most secret wishes.
smm
On the following day, the
Brothers visited the North
Carolina Orthopedic Hospital in
Gastonia and presented gifts to
the hospitalized children.
Because of the overwhelming
success of this visit, the hospital
has asked the fraternity to
return again next year.
A chapter spokesman advised
that the brothers were extremely
grateful for the help extended by
the Marine Corps Reserve
through its Toys for Tots
program, without which the
party could not have been the
success it was. They also ap
preciate the cooperation of the
Woo'co Department Stores,
which provided a special price
on the toys. The Brothers are
indebted to both the Marinos and
Woolco for their participation.
^0'
TKE Brothers presented each child a gift for Christmas.
Crowders
Mountain
Saved
BY GEORGE BALL
Crowders Mountain is a small
prominence in the southwestern
corner of Gaston County. It is
quite old geologically and of
interest to scientists, hikers, and
others. The mountain is
privately owned, and the owners
have, for the last half - century.
made it available to anyone who
wanted to use it for recreational
purposes.
In July of 1970, exploratory
drilling was begun on the
mountain, and a strip - mining
operation became a real
possibility. The owners had
leased the mountain to a large
mining company. An option had
also been given to this mining
company through an in
termediary.
A small group of citizens
concerned by the possible
destruction of this mountain,
met in September, at the Schiele
Museum of Natural History.
They later met, several times
informally: and on November 23,
1970, they established the Gaston
County Conservation Society.
Mr. Richard Cone was elected as
first president.
Work was begun to save the
mountain even before the
organization was formalized. A
slide presentation showing rock
formations, plants, animals, and
other aspects of Crowders
Mountain was prepared and
widely shown throughout the
county to clubs, organizations
and schools, including Belmont
Abbey College, where it was
enthusiastically reviewed.
Petitions urging the Com
missioners of Gaston County to
zone the southwest corner of the
county to protect it against
mining operations were cir
culated. Several hundred names
were secured on these petitions,'
including those of a large
majority of land owners in that
corner of the county. To date,
however, this area has not been
zoned.
During the winter of 1970 - 1971,
work was begun to promote the
area as a state park.
State officials were shown the
slide program, and several
visited the mountain. On July 31,
1971, the Board*of Conservation
and Development of the State of
North Carolina passed a strongly
- worded resolution that the state
acquire Crowders and Kings
Mountains for inclusion in the
state park system.
Plans for this acquisition have
recently begun. It is hoped that
one day soon, Gaston county will
have a new state park.
Editor’s Note -
Mr. George Ball is chairman of
the Biology Department of
Gaston College, a neighboring
institution located a few miles
west of the Abbey.
We are pleased with his con
tribution describing how the co -
ordinated efforts of all sectors of
the community can help towards
the preservation of natural
beauty.
Grants Received
On November 12, 1971, Smith
Bagley, President of the Z. Smith
Reynolds Foundation, Inc.,
announced that the Trustees of
the Foundation granted to
Belmont Abbey College $25,000
for the purpose of maintaining
and improving the existing
faculty enrichment program.
The faculty enrichment
program of the College involves
a number of steps designed to
contribute to the enhancement of
the faculty. Include^lw among
these are: finahcial. aid To
complete doctoral work and to
facilitate attendance at summer
study, at work shops and
seminars in one’s academic
discipline, and at professional
meetings.
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