Smithville
Praise in the Park is Saturday at Smithville Park
Sept. 17. One of the longest running free, family-friendly festivals returns to Cornelius this weekend. Praise in the Park is an annual event that features local, regional, and national gospel artists along with food and educational and inspirational vendors. Performances Performers include Bonita Bourney-Simmons, Tiffani Lewis, Gary Mumford, Tawanna Ross, Cassandra O’Neal, Frankie & the […]
Smithville revitalization: Change is inevitable
| By Tonya Rivens June 10. Smithville residents are slowly grappling with the fact that their historic, tightly knit neighborhood is changing. In April, the Smithville Community Coalition (SCC) hosted its first open community meeting at which time a revitalization plan was presented. But two months later, there still appears to be no consensus around […]
Smithville revitalization: How best to fight gentrification and preserve history?
April 9. By Tonya Rivens. At the first open community Zoom meeting of the Smithville Community Coalition, approximately 23 residents along with Mayor Washam and several Town Commissioners heard about their ambitious revitalization plan for the Black community just east of I-77. Observers say there is no consensus yet as to how to revitalize and […]
Town leaders looking for consensus-building in Smithville revitalization plan
March 18. By Dave Vieser. The Smithville neighborhood is facing the same challenges other historically black communities are facing nationwide: Gentrification taking advantage of what is now blight and lower home values. Complicating this is the fact that the town owns more than a dozen lots in the area. “We are in trouble folks,” said […]
New road honors former mayor
June 17. By Dave Vieser. At their Monday June 17 meeting Cornelius commissioners are being asked to award a $1.29 million contract to Blythe Development of Charlotte to build Nannie Potts Lane. Blythe was the only bidder for the project which is designed to relieve traffic on Catawba Avenue east of I-77. The road is […]
Visitation Friday, funeral Saturday for former Mayor Nannie Potts
The funeral for Nannie Potts, a former mayor of Cornelius, will be at 11 am Saturday Nov. 17 at Torrence Chapel AME Zion Church, 21517 Torrence Chapel Road. Visitation will be 6 pm to 8 pm Friday, Nov. 16 at the church. She was the first female mayor of Cornelius as well as the […]
Cornelius QuikTrip: At a crossroads
By Dave Vieser. QuikTrip’s arrival in Cornelius has been anything but quick: Efforts to reach a consensus on the intersection of Hwy. 21 and Catawba Avenue have gone in circles. Now QT says it may lease the forlorn property rather than redevelop it. Officials at QuikTrip as well as Cashion’s and nearby businesses oppose the […]
Nannie Potts—Cornelius’ first female mayor and only African-American mayor—passes away
Nov. 10. Nannie Potts, the first female mayor of Cornelius—and the only African-American mayor—has passed away. She was a devoted church worker at Torrence Chapel AME Zion, a political figure with whom future mayors sought counsel, she grew up on a farm near Hoke Lumber in Davidson. She leaves behind husband Mickey Potts, the barber […]
Black History Month celebration Feb. 24 at Town Hall
Feb. 15 – The town of Cornelius PARC Department and the Smithville CommUNITY Coalition will host an annual Black History Month celebration February 24 from 1-3 p.m. at Cornelius Town Hall. The event is free and open to the public and will feature live performances from local historically-black churches and offer children’s activities and refreshments. […]
Volunteers needed for Smithville clean-up March 17
Feb. 15 – Operation Curbside Cleanup, an annual Smithville community clean-up event, is scheduled for March 17. Volunteers should meet at Smithville Park at 8 a.m. before setting out through the neighborhood to work. The clean-up event is organized by the Smithville Community Coalition in partnership with the North Catawba Neighborhood Association, the town of […]
