McAdenville Christmas lights.. Photo courtesy of Mike McIntyre

Holly Jolly Gaston County!  David here. Today is December 10th, 2024

Tuesday's weather:Today will be cloudy with a bit of rain The high will be 63.Tonight will be mild with periods of rain, some heavy, and a thunderstorm; breezy in the evening; there can be flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas The low will be 57. 

Join Gaston County Parks & Recreation as they celebrate Christmas as it was in the early 1900’s. There  will be a craft,exhibist, food trucks, letters to Santa, old fashioned candy in the General Store, Christmas music, games, s’mores and an opportunity to have your picture made with Santa.  The Historic Christmas Village will be decorated with period appropriate decorations for everyone to see and enjoy!. 

Historic Market Vendors will be placed around the gazebo for some Christmas Shopping from 12:00pm – 5:00pm.

Admission is FREE!        December 14th, 2024       12:00pm – 5:00pm

Dallas Park Heritage Village – 1303 Dallas Cherryville Highway, Dallas, NC 28034

Fryeday Coffee roasters opens new locationAlisa Frye has opened a new location of Fryeday Coffee roasters in the Market Street shopping center in Cramerton (Food Lion Shopping Center)Hours are 4 PM till 8 PM Sunday through Thursday and 4 PM till 9 PM Friday and Saturday for the Christmas light traffic. When they  fully staffed, they will be open at 7 AM Weekdays. They are currently seeking experienced applicants- send  your resume to fryedaycoffee@gmail.

Photo courtesy of Mike Schless

We told you a while back that a New York Butcher Shoppe & Wine Bar was coming to Belmont. The 3,640 square foot building is currently under construction at 100 Bryant street.

Vinyl lovers rejoice!

Who: JG's Vinyl & MoreWhat:  A

new record store in downtown Gastonia on 12/21/2024. Over 2000 vinyl records (new and used), CD’s, memorabilia, t-shirts, music gear, home audio, and more. When: They are having a grand opening at 11am of 12/21.Where:

JG’s Vinyl and More! 322 W. Main Ave Gastonia, NC 28052 They are located next the the Rooster.

Get ready for a holiday adventure like no other!Join us for Clara’s Trip: A Cirque & Dance Nutcracker Story, a unique twist on the beloved holiday classic, right here in Charlotte from December 27-29.Brought to you by Caroline Calouche & Co., this spectacular performance combines dance, acrobatics, and cirque magic, bringing Clara’s story to life in a way you've never seen before.Awe-inspiring choreography and acrobatic feats- a heartwarming story filled with holiday cheerFun for the whole family—perfect for a holiday outing!Event Details: 📍 Location: Booth Theatre📅 Dates: December 27-29

Ole Carolina Barbecue has closedEvidently Ole Carolina Barbecue on Union Road in Gastonia has closed. Their Facebook page says "Permanently closed" and the phone number is disconnected.I always enjoyed their BBQ and am sad to see them go.

Gastonia company makes Charlotte Business Journal's Fast 50How cool, ummm, hot is that? Elijah's Extreme Ghost Pepper Sauce was number 13 on the Charlotte Business Journal's Fast 50, a list that highlights the fastest growing companies in the Charlotte/Metro  region.Elijah's Extreme is a father son operation launched in 2014. They have a growth rate of over 84%, and offer Ghost Pepper Sauce, a Beef Jerky and hot honey flavors, and much more. Based in Gastonia, you can check them out here.

Belmont Trolley receives $40,000 grant

Belmont Trolley, Inc. is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a $40,000 grant from The Cannon Foundation. This generous funding will help advance the construction of the Belmont Trolley facility in downtown Belmont, a space that will celebrate local history, inspire innovation, and foster community connections.

The Cannon Foundation’s mission is to support programs that promote healthcare, higher education, human services, and arts and culture. Belmont Trolley aligns with this mission by blending historic preservation with innovative programming to create educational, cultural, and economic opportunities for the Belmont community and beyond.

The future facility will house historic trolley cars, serve as a hub for STEM education programs, and host arts and cultural events, enhancing the region’s cultural landscape while preserving Belmont’s rich transportation history. This grant is a critical step toward fulfilling Belmont Trolley’s vision of creating a space where history, education, and the arts converge to benefit the entire community.

Photo courtesy Ethan Peeler

Gastonia City Arts Committee recently had their annual wreath competition. Four incredible local groups showcased their creativity, and the results were stunning.The groups participating were G.A.C. D.S.T Sorority, Ride-A-Bike Bicycle Shop, C. Ross Made, and Gaston Arts Council.

Gastonia adds more surveillance camerasThe Gastonia Police Department has 21 surveillance cameras, and they are adding 22 more.In 2023 the cameras were used in 122 cases, and of those, 55 were solved. The cameras helped police capture a stolen car and suspect, and helped apprehend a homicide suspect.Gastonia Police received a $15,000 grant from Norfolk Southern Railway, and a $1 million grant from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services to implement a real time-crime center, of which the cameras will be a part.

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.

Nutcracker by Gaston Dance Theatre a rousing successPerformed at Gaston Day School over several days last week by Gaston Dance, the Nutcracker had a full house every performance. Directed by Camilla Bullard, this was the 30th year the dance company has performed this classic.

Founded in 1982, Gaston Dance Theatre offers a professional curriculum for ballet, jazz, tap and modern. Classes are offered to children beginning at three years of age and to adults.  GDT serves a cultural need in the community by creating and/or presenting a repertoire of classical and contemporary dance works.  Our studios are housed at Unity Place – home of St. Stephen’s AME Zion Church – across the street from Gastonia City Hall.Find out more

Miami Fusion Cafe

by Richard Walker

Gaston College has its first 10-game winning streak in 53 years after Sunday's workmanlike 84-65 victory over the Newberry developmental team at that school's Eleazer Arena.

The Rhinos improved to 10-1 with their 10th straight win since losing at No. 1-ranked Davidson-Davie Community College on Nov. 2 in their 2024-25 season opener.

"It feels good," first-year Gaston College coach Benny Moss said. "I'm happy for the guys because they're working hard every day to get better. They're staying focused one game at a time. If we can continue to stay focused on the process and not the results, I think the results will continue to follow."

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 JobsBoard Certified Behavior Analyst $80-$100k, Automotive body technician $52k, PT Cashier/Stocker @ Aldi $18-$20 hr, and more...Info...