Shelby Shopper Shelby NC
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Our 31st Year • Issue No. 14 • April 3, 2014 704-484-1047 Free Free "Cleveland County's Favorite Newspaper" TOOL DEMONSTRATION DAY TOOL DEMONSTRATION DAY 217 Arrowood St., Shelby, NC 704-487-5263 ©CommunityFirstMedia NEW NEW TOOLS NEW NEW EXHIBITS EXHIBITS NEW DISPLAYS NEW DISPLAYS Industry Professionals on hand to demonstrate the newest products! Tuesday, April 8 Tuesday, April 8 th th • 8am to 2pm • 8am to 2pm Continued On Page 13 Imagine being a child that is in a wheelchair, autistic or confined by other special needs and always dependent on someone else to be there to help with the every- day tasks of living. The children at North Shelby School and their families deal with this on a daily basis. Just the require- ments of getting by day to day can cause extra expenses and stress on households of these fam- ilies and can leave little time, energy and often money for extra activi- ties that most families have the opportunity to enjoy. That is the inspira- tion behind "Teddy Bear's Beach Run", a once in a lifetime beach experience with all transporta- tion, rooms, entertainment paid for the North Shelby Seniors and some of their one on one workers. Carl "Teddy Bear" Fortenberry says it takes a lot of help and money, but it is worth it to get to see these kids, some of whom have never experienced the sand, ocean, and sometimes not even getting in a swimming pool. It's exciting to watch their amazement with everything and to see them sharing that experience with their classmates. Fortenberry says that this trip lets them have a weekend at Myrtle Beach and be just like other kids that are graduating. Carol Goforth, Bookkeeper and Program Coordinator at North Shelby School adds that it gives them a level of independence, that they may not get to experience ever again, some students have never been away from home overnight or to the beach. The trip is usually scheduled the first weekend in May. They leave on Friday and return on Monday afternoon and they stay at the Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. Special accommo- dations, beach wheelchairs and other equipment are provided. Every student gets a T-shirt. Goforth says that the smallest number of students ever taken has been five, and the largest group consisted of twenty-two students. The kids look forward to this opportunity for years before it is their turn. This is evident as they all cheer and clap at the Friday send off celebration, which also includes a police escort and dozens of motor- cycles, giving the bus an escort to the county line. Some of the bikers are also volunteers on the trip and use it as their vacation, escorting the students all the way to Myrtle Beach and helping them with activities on the trip. Teddy Bear says it is truly a sight to see the way every one pulls together, to make this trip special for these kids, who have all worked hard to get to this point. The trip is earned by the Seniors for performing well in their academics and behavior, so it is truly an accomplishment to be able to participate. This year's trip is scheduled for May 2nd - May 5th. Volunteers and donations welcome Contact Carol Goforth at North Shelby School 704-487-9941 cagoforth@clevelandcountyschools.org Teddy Bear's Beach Run True to his nickname, Teddy Bear (aka Carl Fortenberry) is a big, lovable, softie of a man, that even his loud motorcycle and biker club leather can't disguise. He has a giant heart and is so lovable, according to Carol Goforth, of North Shelby School. Many of the North Shelby students know him by sight and name because of his work as a volunteer with the Special Olympics of Cleveland County and mostly because he organizes the sponsorship for "Teddy Bear's Beach Run" every year, which is the Senior Beach Trip for the North Shelby students that are graduating. Carl looks forward to this event every year, and he, along with other volunteers, escort the student caravan out of town, and some even take a vacation and volunteer to go to Myrtle Beach every May. He also hosts a chicken dinner fundraiser on the last Friday of every January to raise money so that each senior has the opportunity to go on the trip. Fortenberry became involved with North Shelby through his job at Eaton Corporation. Teddy Bear says, "Eaton is a corporate sponsor for the Special Olympics Cleveland County. We have a team that cooks for all the athletes and volunteers at the Special Olympics Spring Games so that's how I got hooked up with them". The idea for the beach trip came from the days when he used to belong to the Gastonia Harley Owners Teddy Bear aka Carl Fortenberry Group & they helped sponsor a senior beach trip for the seniors at Webb St. School which is a special needs school like North Shelby. "We never did go with the kids but would give them a motorcycle escort out of town" which then led to him thinking that the North Shelby Seniors deserved a reward for facing their everyday difficulties and making it all the way through school. Teddy Bear is quick to deflect credit from himself and give it to the other volunteers that help make this event happen. "People like Robert Hunt who helped get the trip off of the ground and several of the guys that ride their bikes down with us have been every year". He also gives credit to others like Carol Goforth who works from the school and Doug Fortenberry with his cooking team, along with many others that make sure this event is a success for the kids from year to year. They also always welcome more help and donations for the kids. Teddy Bear has a history of service and volunteering, other than just doing the Beach Run. He is a former member of Number 3 Fire Department and Shelby Rescue Squad. He also retired from the Army National Guard after 20 years of service. He was a charter member of the Windjammers Motorcycle Club, and after a break, is again a current member and participant in the by Dawn Downs Teddy Bear's Beach Run 2013 Participants Teddy Bear (aka Carl Fortenberry) FREE HELMET to all participants ©CommunityFirstMedia BRAIN Bonanza For Kids BRAIN Bonanza For Kids Shelby City Park Easter Egg Hunt Shelby City Park Easter Egg Hunt Shelby City Park Saturday, April 12, 2014 • 9:30am-2pm Saturday, April 12, 2014 • 9:30am-2pm • Face Painting • Infl atables - Rides • Pilot Club Puppeteers • Twist The Balloon Man • Magician Steve Holt • Med Center Air Ground Service • Shelby Police Dept. - Indent-A-Kid • Shelby Fire Dept. Engine 32 + Ladder 25 • Safe Kids Cleveland County • Train & Carousel Rides 9 th Annual Community Community Prayer Prayer Service Service for for Farming Farming 2:00 2:00PM PM Rehobeth United Rehobeth United Methodist Church Methodist Church 2036 Rehobeth Church Rd. 2036 Rehobeth Church Rd. Shelby • NC Shelby • NC SUNDAY SUNDAY APRIL APRIL 6 th th We depend on God for the miracle of plant & animal growth. Therefore, it is important that we set aside time to recognize our dependence on God. You are invited join us in a community-wide prayer service to ask God to bless the area's farms, farmers & gardens this season. See details inside on page 22 Food Pantry Donations Needed People in our community would be surprised at the number of families that the Neal Senior Center food pantry serves. As the cost of liv- ing increases, their check doesn't increase at the same rate so they don't always have the resources to feed themselves or their families adequately. That is why the food pantry exists - to aid those who need food, especially on an emergency basis. The Neal Senior Center wants to make sure that seniors have the food they need to sustain them- selves. They are constantly seeking donations. With these bad economic times, the number of people who need the food pantry keeps increas- ing. The Neal Senior Center is always grateful to receive donations of the following items that are constantly needed: canned meat, canned fruit, fruit juice boxes, canned and bot- tles, small jars of jelly, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, canned soups, crackers, boxed pasta dishes, pasta, rice, boxed rice dishes, canned veg- etables, small jars of mayonnaise, cooking oil, cereal, breakfast food, small cans of coffee, small boxes of tea, sugar, boxed milk or powdered, paper towels, toilet paper. They are also asking for donations of personal care items. Often, peo- ple who need food are also in need of other basic items for their daily per- sonal needs. These items include: razors (men/women), shaving cream, aftershave, deodorant, soap, lotion, tissues, laundry & dish detergent, trash bags, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, denture tablets and adhesive. There are numerous opportunities for groups or individuals to help the Pantry. Remember them if you are conducting a food drive. Please contact Kathy in the Service depart- ment. For more information please call Council on Aging/Neal Senior Center at 704-482-3488.