Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving! So now the holiday season is in full swing. We’re going to Biltmore to see the Christmas display..tickets for two? $326-ouch!

Oh yeah- don’t forget our poll at the end of the newsletter!

Today's weather: Areas of fog in the morning with heavy rain; otherwise, a thick cloud cover; beneficial rain may come at the risk of localized flooding The will be high 49.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, brisk and chilly. The low will be 27. Bring those plants inside if you haven’t already!

Jim Morasso and team are at it again. They are renovating the beautiful former Citizens National Bank building, and adding a new more architecturally relevant building to the left (west) side. The new section will feature a pass through in cooperation with the City of Gastonia to provide access to 80 parking spaces.

Morasso says they have a letter of intent from a wellness center, and will start the construction of the restaurant and business club in the near future. The project is expected to cost $8.8 million.

The lease has been signed and it is officially a go-Cramerton is getting a new Publix.

The new Publix grocery store will be located in the new Redhawk residential & commercial development between Armstrong Ford Road and South New Hope Road. The new Redhawk development will have approximately 1300 homes, and feature greenways and community parks.

A timeline on when the store will open has not yet been established. This will be the second Publix in Gaston County. The other is in Hoffman Village on Hoffman Road.

Bonico is a new boutique shop located in downtown McAdenville that offers home decor, artisan gifts, stationery, and seasonal items. They are located at 121 Main Street in McAdenville, formerly the home of Mona’s Boutique & Gifts..which has moved online.

My friend and Gaston County native Jefferson Fortner has just released a new book called ABC Dreary: A Dreadful Alphabet book. Technically it’s an ABC Darium, which is a book to teach children the alphabet….but this one is filled with dark humor. For example “A is for the hidden axe your mother has behind her back”. The book is illustrated by Don Morgan, who has been an exhibiting artist since 1978. He is based in Greensboro.

Fortner will be at Catawba Coffee In Mount Holly on December 13th, 12-4 PM.Catawba Coffee is located at 104 West Charlotte Ave in Mount Holly.

We normally only feature retro homes in Gaston County, but this 1937 home is Kings Mountain was so amazing we had to show it to you. This 7,268 square foot house is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is too much to tell you about…check out the photos here.

Tuesday December 2nd, Belmont, 3 PM

Saturday December 6th, Mount Holly, 3 PM

Saturday December 6th, Kings Mountain, 3 PM

Sunday December 7th, Gastonia, 5:00 PM

Wednesday December 10th, Stanley, 3:00 PM

Thursday December 11, McAdenville, 5:30 PM

Saturday December 13th, Cherryville, 5:00 PM

Saturday December 13th, Ranlo, 1:00 PM

Sunday December 14th, Dallas, 3:00 PM

Please double check the local municipalities’ website or Facebook page for verification.

From Barristers, downtown Gastonia: Nashville Hot Chicken features a crispy spiced fried chicken breast, arugula, pickled red onion, and buttermilk herb dressing

The grand marshall of the 2025 Belmont Christmas Parade will be Belmont Rotary Club's longest-serving member, Richard S. (Dick) Cromlish, Jr., who has 56 years of service. The parade is set for Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 3 p.m.

The Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce coordinates the parade for the City of Belmont, and Chamber Operations Manager Ashley Reep attended a recent Rotary Club meeting to announce that a Rotarian would be the grand marshall in recognition of the club's 100th anniversary this year.

Club President Ken Pahon then announced that the club had chosen Dick Cromlish as the grand marshall. There was a standing ovation.

A Belmont native, Cromlish is the owner of School Resources, which has operated for decades from one of three buildings he owns in downtown Belmont. He's a former member of the Belmont City Council, past president of the Rotary Club, past president of the Chamber of Commerce, longtime board member of the Gaston County Economic Development Department and the Gaston County Tourism Department and a longtime member of Belmont First Presbyterian Church.

Strategy and Development Mgr: Whitewater Center

Market President I, United Bank, Gastonia

Plant Manager, Mat Holdings, Gastonia: $105k-$140k

Last weeks poll: What is your favorite desert: Pecan or Pumpkin pie?

It was evenly divided…to my surprise! 50 % said Pecan-50% said Pumpkin