Happy Holidays Gaston County! David here...
So as of this morning, you have 6 shopping days until Christmas. Fellas-If you are waiting for the last minute to shop-it's here!Today is December 19th, 2023Today will be mostly sunny and cooler, with a high of 46.Tonight will be clear and cold, with a low of 22.Yes, 20!
New project could double Belmont's core downtown
Downtown Belmont could expand with 15 acres including a new street area, which would effectively double Belmont's downtown if a new plan goes through.The Stowe family has plans to sell a 10 acre plot behind businesses on Main Street. Unless you have been in a coma, you know that Belmont is blowing up. The plan includes mixed use, residential, civic, and existing buildings, as well as underground parking. You can see more of the plan at The Congress for New Urbansim. The buildings will be 2 to 4 stories in height, in keeping with the historic downtown. The Stowe family worked with local business owners and an architect to come up with the plan. This was done in advance of the property being sold, and it will ultimately be up to the new owner and the city as to what actually happens with the property.The plan was done by Historical Concepts, and won an award from the Congress for New Urbanism.
The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) helps create vibrant and walkable cities, towns, and neighborhoods where people have diverse choices for how they live, work, shop, and get around. People want to live in well-designed places that are unique and authentic. CNU's mission is to help build those places.
The Mount Holly Christmas Parade was packed!
So all of the Gaston County Christmas parades are done...Mount Holly's was the last one for this year.
River District moving aheadWe have told you several times over the last year about the River District project which will be just adjacent to Gaston County, near the Catawba River and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.Plans to try to attract the Western & Southern tennis tournament to a new facility that was to be built in the River District fell through when the tournament decided to stay put. Regardless, the project is moving ahead.Crescent Communities announced in September that they had appointed Rainer Ficken to oversee the 1400 acre project. The first phase- called Westrow- is progressing with construction of utilities and infrastructure.The master plan for the River District calls for 8 million square feet of total commercial space, 5,000 homes and apartments, 1,000 hotel rooms and hundreds of acres of park and green space along the Catawba River. It is expected that the project will be developed in many phases over the course of decades.
New Gastonia mail facility rockin' around the clock
No, that's not a garbage truck pictured above. Actually it's part of the mail sorting equipment at the new USPS facility in Gateway85 in Gaston county. The new facility is actually a prototype; one of a handful around the country. They all have the very latest in technology. “The machines have the capability... they have 360 cameras on them, so they have the ability to see the package from all angles.” said plant manager Margret Ford. “It’s super-exciting to be here with what this new technology brings for us.”When the facility reaches full operation, it will be able to handle three quarters of a million pieces of mail per day.
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.
Missing KM girl with autism home safelyAmelia Caroline Upton will be home for Christmas after all. She had left a note after midnight on December 13th saying she was running away. We are so glad she is home with her family!
Gaston County program rehabbing homes for the needyMore than 100 homes have gotten help, according to Marc Bolick, Program Manager for Gaston County's Housing Rehab Program.“The need is great. We always have more requests than we do funds to answer those requests. We’ll probably get 100 applications for one grant,” said Bolick, “There are a lot of houses that were built in the 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s. There’s lead, asbestos, radon issues, and such in some of them. You have some environmental issues. we do a lot of roofs, floors, structural, water, sewer, electrical,” he explained. “We have spent well over $2 million and rehabbed over 100 homes here in Gaston County,” Bolick said.“Any time we can allow that homeowner to remain in their home it saves everyone. It allows them to stay in their home safely and with dignity, but it also has a direct savings to Medicare and Medicaid costs on the bottom line,” he said.Find out more about the Gaston County Housing Rehab Grants
Slice-and-Bake Shortbread Cookies
These sweet easy-to-make Christmas cookies start with one dough that can then be turned into three different recipes. How great is that?
You can dress up this basic recipe for Slice-and-Bake Shortbread Cookies with all sorts of delicious additions. Choose one flavor variation—Chocolate-Sea Salt, Fruit-and-Nut, or Lemon—and follow the additional instructions below the main recipe. Of course, all three are delicious, but if you plan to make all of them, you will need to triple the base recipe to have enough dough.Recipe here...
Miami Fusion Cafe
Ask about our $9.95 lunch specials...
Panthers 9, Falcons 7Panthers fans vote with their feet
Panthers fans are fed up, and they are voting with their feet...by not showing up. Granted, it was miserable Sunday, but the Panthers are just as miserable. They are the NFL's worst at 2 and 12. Meanwhile DJ Moore and Christian McCaffrey are tearing it up for the Chicago Bears and the San Franciso 49ers. Go figure.But- the Panthers did win on Sunday. Barely.Not much to be happy about, but here goes:*QB Bryce Young was poised as he has been in any game so far. He ended the day with 18 of 24, and 167 yards.*Chuba Hubbard- again proves to be a workhorse. 22 carries, 87 yards.*Eddie Pineiro- getting it done, 3 for 3 field goals.The Panthers play Green Bay next Sunday at 1 PM at home.
Happy Holidays from Shelli's She Shed in Stanley!
The She Shed is a home decor boutique full of floral stems & arrangements and unique, vintage, antique, retro, farmhouse styles and the perfect gift items.Open on Thurs, Fri & Sat 10am-5pm980-318-3816106 W Dallas Rd., Stanley, NC 28164Info...
Hosting an event?Let us help you get the word out- purchase an event listing!
Gaston County JobsRemote Licensed Clinical Social Worker $70-$94 hr, Pediatric Dental Asst $23 hr, Meeting and Event Coordinator @ Sisters of Mercy $65-75k per yr, Machinist/Programmer $30-$35 hr , and more...
