CCC Sponsors Black
History Programs
In observance of Black History
Month, Cleveland Community
College's Black Awaireness Club
and Visiting Artist program are
sponsoring a variety of special
events that are open to the pub
lic:
February 1-28 Charles D. Rog
ers. assistant professor of art ed
ucation at Johnson C. Smith
University, will exhibit a collec
tion of acrylic paintings in the
College Gallery.
February 1-28 Photo Show,
"Cleveland County: Heritage/
■ Legacy," will be on display in the
Hoover Gallery (photographs by
Zane Saunders, Cllffslde).
February 6-10, 12 noon-lp.m.
RAPS"Race and Peace in Our So
ciety," seminru" will be moderat
ed by Paula Larke.
February 9, 7 p.m. Demonstra
tion by Shelby Martial Arts in
the College auditorium.
February 16, 7:30 p.m. Duo
concert will be presented by Pia
nist, WUllam Chapman-Nyaho,
visiting artist from Davidson
County Community College, and
Paula Larke, CCC visiting artist.
February 22, 7 p.m. Minority
Job Forum for community
youth will be conducted by the
Cleveland County Business and
Professional Association in the
College auditorium.
February 28, 7 p.m. Image
Building Workshop will be con
ducted by Ron Harrill in the col
lege auditorium.
For more Information call
484-4025.
Church News
Friendship Missionaries
Host Annual Program
Photo/FRANK WILLIAMS
Oscar Penegar is the executive director of Look Up Gaston.
Look Up Gaston Reforms County Image
Alliance Church News
By Sonya A. White
FRIENDSmP
Reverend Maurice Floyd, pas
tor 'of Hopewell Baptist Church
lir"Shelby, will be the guest
speaker for the annual program
of the Missionary Department
of Friendship Baptist Church on
Sunday, Febmaiy 5, 1989. Rev.
Floyd will be accompanied by
members and choirs of Hope-
well, The public is cordially in
vited to attend the service,
which will begin at 3 p.m. Mrs.
Jeannette Cunningham is presl-
deht of the missionaries. The
church is located at 227 W. Brad
ley Gastonia. Rev. John T.
McCullough is Interim Pastor.
SPRINGFIELD
Reverend Theodore Arm
strong, pastor of Springfield
Baptist Church in Stanley, and
members and choirs of Spring-
field will be special guests at the
10th Anniversary Program of
Dr. Logan Carson, pastor of
Webb First Baptist Church in ET
lenboro, N.C. Rev. Armstrong,
who is also moderator of the
Gaston County Baptist Associa
tion. will deliver the anniver
sary message. The service will
begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb
ruary 5, 1989.
MT. MORIAH
beginning Sunday, February 5,
19.&9!, Mt. Moriah Baptist
Church will temporarily hold
Sunday worship services at
Qtjeen Of The Apostles Catholic
Cljurch at 503 North Main
Street in Belmont. Service will
bei held at this location until
wprk to rebuild the present Mt.
Moriah sanctuary is complete.
Worship service will begin at
12:45 p.m. Sunday School will
continue to be held in the educa
tion facilities of the Mt. Moriah
church at 110 Lincoln Street and
wfll begin at 11 a.m. The public
is welcomed to attend Sunday
School and worship service.
RCv. Kenneth Alexander is the
pastor.
FAITH HAVEN
If you need a miracle. Reverend
Andrew Rolllnson, guest mini
ster, will be preaching the Word
in; the power during revival ser
vices for Faith Haven Mission
ini Charlotte. N.C., where Rev.
Oha Murray is the pastor. The
reyival began on Monday, Janu
ary 30. with an outpouring of the
spirit as Rev. Rolllnson spoke
bcjldly on divorce and remarri
age. It will run through Friday,
February 3, 1989. Service will
begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Tea-
njers School Building located at
2600 Newland Road in Char-
Iditte. Rev. Rolllnson says there
wjll be nightly prayer for heal
ing, and needs met. All are in-
vked to come for a blessing. Rev.
Rolllnson is the pastor of New
Ifeyen Mission in Gastonia.
MINISTER'S WIVES
Members of the Gaston County
Minister's Wives met at the
home of Rev. and Mrs. (Valery
Rev. Andrew RoUinaon
By MILLICENT LINK
Alliance Staff Writer
The story of LOOK UP GASTON
is one of a community in
change, a community which dis
covered that many time-
honored' perspectives, those
which had contributed to com
fortable security in the past,
were no longer reliable guide-
posts for the future.
During the industrial revolu
tion, Gaston County proceeded
to build communities at local
streams, and along railroad ac
cesses. These industrial sites
paved the way for the mill-
village. These villages were de
veloped into small towns and
the citizens established a pat
tern of leadership.
By 1979, the county was con
fronted by the instability of the
textile industry, competition of
municipal partisanship, and the
expansion of its neighboring
city Charlotte. The county be
came afflicted with a self
perception of community inferi
ority.
The perception became a ma
jor topic of discussion for the
Board of Directors of the Gaston
County Chamber of Commerce.
They Immediately began to ex
amine methods of reform for the
county.
There Inability to agree on
changes that needed to made, re
sulted in the Chamber's decision
to conduct a survey of the county
citizens, and LOOK UP GASTON
was formed.
LOOK UP GASTON, which was
originally initiated in 1979, is a
community development organ
ization, politically Independent,
committed to serving the citi
zens of Gaston County.
Oscar Penegar, executive di
rector of the foundation says, "It
is the mission of LOOK UP GAS
TON to assess the future possi
bilities of the Gaston commiml-
ty, for the purpose of helping our
leaders and our citizens find
consensus and cooperation on
the Issues and their priorities in
a mutual desire to create a high
er quality of life and a greater
share of opportunity in our indi
vidual and collective future.”
Penegar says the one factor
that is predictable in our future
is change. 'The expectation of
change brought LOOK UP GAS
TON into existence and is the
one reason that its' concepts are
so vital to our future," he says."
Gaston County consists of 14
municipalities. Gaston has
more municipalities than any
other county In the state.
"Our goal is to Improve the
quality of life and economic op
portunities of the citizens of
Gaston County, with the attitude
that you may have to change to
succeed," says Penegar.
Currently, the organization,
which is funded by the business
community, is forming an agen
da to develop sub-divisions or
committees that will generate
new projects.
'We are an Important part of a
great metropolitian area. This
region is rapidly becoming a
world class center, to which the
Gaston community contributed
diversity and cultural richness.
It is also the beneficiaiy of its
resources. Because of our posi
tion, we are about to enter a fan
tastic era of development, of
high quality community life, as
well as opportunity," says Pene
gar.
The organization is accredited
with the establishing of a varie
ty of programs and accomplish
ments of the county: the beauti
fication of the county. Textile
Week, Science and Technology
Fair, Gaston Tomorrow Month,
High Tec/Hlgh Touch, along
with several other programs.
Penegar, a native of Charlotte,
is a graduate of N.C. State Uni
versity, where he majored in fo
restry. He also attended UNC-
Chapel Hill, where he majored
in English and chemistiy, and
minored in anthropology and
history. Penegar has acquired
extensive academic study and
training at a number of other in
stitutions for higher learning.
The academic scholar is fiuent
in a number of languages.
He is also afilliated with nu
merous organizations.
Penegar says that the late May
Morrow, whom he refers to as
Uncle May was very instrumen
tal in his life and contributions.
Morrow, a black man, was his
mentor. "Uncle Morrow was the
most Infiuentlal man in my life.
He sparked my interest in learn
ing. I wish there was a way that 1
could give him more acclaim,"
say Penegar.
Reid Begins Career As Playwright
Rev. Theodore Armstrong
Ann) W.E. Garrison on Monday,
January 30, 1989. Business in
cluded discussion of plans for an
activity to raise funds for the
annual contribution, which the
group makes to Shaw Divinity
School. Mrs. Vanessa Friday,
wife of Rev. Jerry Friday, pastor
of New Cannan Baptist Church
in Gastonia, was selected to act
as Prograim Chairperson for the
next quarter. Other acting offi
cers who will assist President
Valdora Armstrong, wife of Rev.
Theodore Armstrong, who is
pastor of Springfield Baptist
Church in Stanley are: Vice
Presldent-Mrs. Sonya White,
wife of Reverend Eric White, pas
tor of Mt. Pleasant Baptist
Church in Belmont: and Secre
tary, Mrs. Valery Ann Garrison,
First Lady of Friday Memorial
Baptist Church in Dallas. Mrs.
Virginia Holmes, of Tabernacle
Baptist Church, will continue as
Devotions Chairperson. Mrs.
Ruby Alexander, wife of Rev.
Kenneth Alexander, pastor of
Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in
Belmont will host the next meet
ing. All minister's wives in the
Gaston County Association are
invited to join in the fellowship
and service. If you would like
further information about be
coming a member, contact Mrs.
Valdora Armstrong, president
at 864-6145.
See FLOYD On Page 14B.
By MILLICENT LINK
Alliance Staff Writer
Mable Reid is preoccupied with
the Black experience. The 29
year-old playwright, has found
this is an excellent source from
which she draws material to
create her plays.
Ms. Reid recently wrote a play
for the Gastonia-based culturi
arts group EMERGENCY.
EMERGENCY consists of nine
black and white teenagers from
Ashbrook High School in Gasto
nia, who recognizes the prob
lems confronting teens today.
The group recently performed
a play in Raleigh, written by Ms.
Reid at a Martin Luther King, Jr.
celebration. The three-part play
recognized the three major prob
lems teens face today drugs, sex,
and depression.
Ms. Reid says, "EMERGENCY
was a great group of Individuals
to work with. It was really a
team effort. They really seem to
believe in what they are working
toward," she says.
Ms. Reid has been writing for
two years. Her Interest began in
the church, when she composed
a short skit for her pastor's an
niversary. The skit was entitled
"Pastor For A Day."
She also performs with an act
ing team. The team consists of
her sisters Regina, and Charley
Mae. Mable composes the plays
for the group.
Reid has written a number of
plays for other organizations in
church community. These or
ganizations Include pastor an
niversaries, children's pro
grams, and choir events.
Although she usually writes
for religious organizations she
has no preference. "I could write
She has entered two of her
plays in a playwright competi
tion.
Mable Reid reflects back on a play she composed.
Photo/FRANK WILLIAMS
on anything," says Reid.
She especially enjoys writing
on topics about the Black experi
ence. "Being Black you are al
ways threaten. You never know
what the future may hold." she
explains.
Reid says her mother has been
an inspiration to her. "My
mother has always been there
for me. She has been a positive
influence in my life. Mom has
also been very supportive in my
work," says Reid.
Mrs. Mozelle Burris
CCC Displays
Portraits
"Cleveland County: Heritage/
Legacy," a collection of photo
graphic portraits of elderly peo
ple and children is on display in
the Hoover Gallery at Cleveland
Community College, Shelby,
through February 28. One of the
photos in the display (shown
above) is a portrait of Mrs. Mo-
zeUe Burris of Kings Mountain.
The photographic works by
Zane Sanders of Cllffslde, N.C.,
were compiled by Cleveland
Community College's visiting
artist, Paul Larke.