Above: Myrtle Beach at night Good Tuesday morning  Gaston County. It's David, and today is September 3rd, 2024Hopefully you are reading this from the beach, or from a cool spot in the mountains. Or maybe you're back at the salt mine, slaving away. Regardless, we hope you had a fun and relaxing Labor Day. You didn't burn the hot dogs,did you?

Today's weather, cooling off!Today will be not as warm with lower humidity with intervals of clouds and sunshine.  The  high will be 79.Tonight will be clear t partly cloudy with a low of 58.

Firehawk Brewpub in Mount Holly has closed

September could be start of compromise on mass transit... Gaston County ? Maybe...A new plan for mass transit that includes the north/south Red Line will soon be presented to The NC General Assembly. The Silver line, which would go within a mile of the airport, could  possibly be expanded into Belmont. Possibly.The plan requires a .01 cent sales tax for Mecklenburg County, and the creation of a new authority that doesn't include participation from surrounding counties.Upshot: although  a mass transit train into Charlotte would be a boon for a lot of Gaston County daily travelers..don't hold your breath. It looks like it is years away; if it happens at all.

Waterbean Coffee still coming, but to a different locationWaterbean Coffee owner Tony Vo  purchased the old Powers Seafood Building in 2022. But due to costs of renovatng the building being much higher than anticipated, Waterbean is now opening in the Hangar 618 project at 618 West Franklin Boulevard.Waterbean will occupy 4115 square feet in the new project. Waterbean is known for it's upscale locations and interiors. The shop will have a bakery, five kinds of espresso, and other unique drinks. They already have a shop in downtown Belmont.Vo says they hope to be open in Spring of 2025.

City of Mount Holly awarded $374,227 for future Ransom Hunter ParkMount Holly is building a new park on Glendale Avenue, on the site of the former home of Ransom Hunter. The City received $374,227 from the Parks and Recreation Grant Fund Authority, and will name the park The Ransom Hunter Park.Ransom Hunter was born into slavery in 1825, and passed away in 1918. Hunter was the first freed black man to own property in Gaston County, which was 2 acres off of Glendale Avenue in Mount Holly. His home was built in the late 1860's, and stood until 2001.

Stowe Family YMCA to Host Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Facility Expansion

The Stowe Family YMCA is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking ceremony for its much-anticipated facility expansion on Thursday, September 5, at 4:00 pm. This exciting event marks the beginning of a new chapter in the YMCA's commitment to serving the community by enhancing its offerings and expanding its reach.

This Capital Campaign supports over 15,000 square feet of brand-new space and a renovation of 37,000 square feet of existing space. Our new Stowe entrance will be a beacon of belonging for all who enter, offering an improved focus on safety, an expanded lobby, and a warm, welcoming living room space to encourage increased social interaction. With a strong focus on our future generations, this expansion will include an 8,000-square-foot dedicated youth program wing. This will be "their" space, where they'll meet friends, discover new interests, and develop as leaders for a better Gaston County.

Event Details:- Date: Thursday, September 5- Time: 4:00 pm- Stowe Family YMCA, 196 YMCA Drive, Belmont, NC 28012

Community leaders, YMCA members, local businesses, and the general public are all invited to attend the ceremony. The event will feature remarks from YMCA leadership, key donors, and local officials, followed by the ceremonial groundbreaking.Click here to register to attend the event

Would you spray this dog with water?

Would you spray a police K9 with water?? We would like to thank Pastor Sam Warner of First Presbyterian Church of Belmont for including K9 Kilo in this mornings “Blessing of the Animals” service. Kilo was full of excitement and welcomed the blessing.

*Disclaimer* We certainly would not recommend approaching any police K9 without speaking to the handler first.

The Giftt in Concert Saturday, September 7 at the Museum

Blues Out Back, the popular music series hosted by the Gaston County Museum of Art & History, returns Saturday, September 7 to the Museum’s garden with The Giftt.

The Giftt – also known as Kadir Muhammad - has been performing his brand of blues since he was 17, combining the sounds of BB King, John Mayer, and Prince, to create a style uniquely his own. A Gaston County native, he’s a local fan favorite who entertains audiences with his instrumental skills and prowess. He’ll be joined out back by his band, Soundz, performing music from his debut album “The Good Blues.”

Tickets are $5 per person are available at the door or here...admission is free to Museum members.

Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Beverages are available for purchase, and a food truck will be on-site.

For more information, contact the Gaston County Museum of Art & History here...

Jeff Johnson is the Gastonia Police Department's first civilian traffic investigator. Bill McGinty, Gastonia Police DepartmentGastonia hires first civilian traffic investigatorJeff Johnson is a retired Florida State Trooper.  He was recently hired by the Gastonia Police  Department as their first civilian traffic investigator."I saw that the governor had signed a law last year that they were creating civilian traffic crash investigator positions, that cities could implement. And I've been looking for a little while, and then I saw that Gastonia had advertised for it, and I thought, well, I've done that for 24 years," Johnson said. "I like the traffic part of it, you know, where I can get out and move around and meet different people," he said. "I really didn't want to get back into the actual gun and badge part of law enforcement."

At Oak Ridge Dental Arts, we are dedicated to caring for your family as we care for our own families. With years of experience and state-of-the-art dental technology we help you achieve the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve. We ensure the best possible dental experience with friendly, personalized care in a comfortable environment. If you haven’t been to the dentist in the past six months or you are interested in enhancing your smile, give us a call. With one visit you’ll see why so many families in your neighborhood trust Oak Ridge Dental Arts with all their dental needs.

Gastonia's Salvation Army shelter has closedThe Gastonia Salvation Army shelter and soup kitchen has closed. They are transitioning into a homeless navigation and prevention program.The Salvation Army says so far 34 people have been transitioned into housing. But many people feel that they are being abandoned, and are discouraged by the closing.We hope that this new approach will be successful, and have a positive result in the lives of the currently homeless.

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. – If you’re looking for your next best friend and cuddle buddy, head over to Gaston County Animal Care and Enforcement (GCACE) at 1491 Business Park Court in Gastonia on Saturday, September 7th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. GCACE will be hosting its annual Clear the Shelter event, and all pet adoptions are free.

The shelter will be open for all attendees to view available animals and apply for adoptions in person.  Staff will be approving all adoption applications on site during the event.  There will be a chance to win free paraphernalia and pet supplies with every adoption, a raffle with all proceeds benefiting the animals at the shelter, and more than 40 vendors will be on site helping GCACE celebrate its big day. 

Animals are available on a first come first serve basis, so despite the event starting at 11 a.m., adopters are encouraged to come early and get in line to have the best chance of adopting a specific animal they are interested in meeting.  There will be plenty of adoptable dogs and cats ready to find their fur-ever family.

For more information, please email Elizabeth Henderson or call 704-922-2178. Feel free to view the animals that are available for adoption online prior to arriving at the event.

C.M Kakassy exhibit opening September 6th     The exhibit of contemporary artwork by artist C.M. ‘Kit’ Kakassy opens Friday, September 6, at the Gaston County Museum of Art & History, 131 W. Main St., in Dallas, NC.      “We are so honored to present “C.M. Kakassy: A Retrospective” at the Museum through the end of the year,” said Alexandrea Pizza, the Museum’s Executive Director. “Mrs. Kakassy has been at the forefront of arts in Gaston County and the region for decades, and for good reason.     “As an abstract artist, her works are brave and experimental, but exemplify the mastery of true artistic talent. Her paintings are bold and energetic, with atmospheric compositions that explode in seemingly three-dimensional forms on canvas. She aims to challenge the viewer, and succeeds through plays on color, dynamic displays of light and shadow, and multiple mediums that push the boundaries and create connections in her viewers.dynamic displays of light and shadow, and multiple mediums that push the boundaries and create connections in her viewers.     “This exhibit,” Mrs. Pizza said, “is a must see.”    

Miami Fusion Cafe

If you haven't checked out Shelli's She Shed in Stanley- what are you waiting for!

Shelli's She Shed is a home decor boutique full of floral stems & arrangements and unique, vintage, antique, retro, farmhouse styles and the perfect gift items.New Hours: Fri & Sat 10am-4pm980-318-3816106 W Dallas Rd., Stanley, NC 28164Check us out!

Hosting an event?Let us help you get the word out- purchase an event listing!

 Gaston County JobsPediatric dental assistant $23 hr, Police Records Specialist, Gaston County, Maintenance Tech $26-$39 hr, and more...Info...