Savvy Citizen: A Gaston County Podcast

Dallas Mayor Hayley Beaty talks about her idea to create a mayor for a day program, and the partnership she established with Carr Elementary that saw 3rd grader Kyleigh Camp get to experience leadership at a whole new level. 

The United Tennis Organization is introducing children of all backgrounds to the game of tennis. Founder and Executive Director Belén Gómez-Jordana talks about starting the nonprofit organization and the opportunity some of the students had recently to meet tennis stars Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe in an exhibition event. 

Founding Historic Preservation Commission members Lucy Penegar and Robert Carpenter talk about the work they did getting the group going in the late 1970s and why its more important than ever to continue on the work of recognizing Gaston County's historic places. 

Transportation planning can often take a backseat at the county level, but not in Gaston County. Senior Transportation Planner Juan Garcia and GCLMPO Administrator Tori Dellinger talk about the unique opportunity Gaston County has to map out its transportation needs. 

New residents are coming to Gaston County nearly every day, and the county is making sure it can provide the services those residents expect. Executive Director of Capital Improvements Ray Maxwell and Public Works Director Dan Ziehm kick off Season 6 of Savvy Citizen with a look ahead to some major projects in the pipeline and some already underway. 

It's our last episode of 2024! We're highlighting the work of the Passport Team inside the Register of Deeds Office, which won the Team Award during the 2024 Gaston Globe Awards. Learn how some planning and hard work has helped make this program a huge success for residents in our area.

Heather Kauffman, who oversees programming at The Lighthouse Children's Advocacy Center and the Cathy Mabry Cloninger Domestic Violence Shelter, talks to Savvy Citizen about the many initiatives she's a part of and how Gaston County is taking a leading role in serving victims of abuse.

Gaston County Extension Agent Christie German talks about the upcoming 4-H Day Camp as a great way to try out everything 4-H has to offer.
The Discover 4-H Day Camp is Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost per youth, ages 8-14, is $15. The deadline to register is December 20, 2024: https://www.cognitoforms.com/GastonCounty1/Discovery4HDayCamp2024
Now through Dec. 15, 2024, you can shop at Tractor Supply, 1630 Edgewood Road in Bessemer City, and round up your purchase to benefit Gaston County 4-H. 4-H will also have ornaments for sale (100% of ornament proceeds will go to 4-H). 
Interested in learning more about Gaston County 4-H? Head to gaston.ces.ncsu.edu/Gaston-County-4-H.

Gaston County Police Officer Zully Castaneda talks about how she put her Spanish-language skills to use to help detectives within the department work a homicide case where a language barrier needed to be overcome. 

Gaston County Cooperative Extension Volunteer Coordinator Kayla Adams brings some special guests with her for this week's show to talk about the 4-H International Exchange Program, and her family's decision to get involved.