The Gastonia Christmas parade. Photo courtesy of Mike McIntyre.Holly Jolly Gaston County! It's David, and today is December 20, 2022. Did you know that yesterday in 1843, Charles dickens published A Christmas Carol? No, not the one with Bill Murray.
Today's weather:Today there will be clouds and breaks of sun, with a high of 47.Tonight there will be plenty of clouds, and a low of 32.
Gastonia Warming Shelter to openFor many of us, freezing temps just mean turning on the gas fireplace, or bumping up the heat a few degrees. But to homeless folks, it can be a matter of life and death.Officials plan to open a warming shelter on nights the temperature is expected to be below freezing, at the Salvation Army Center of Hope on Broad Street in Gastonia. The shelter will be open from 8 PM to 6 AM on nights the temp drops to freezing. The impetus for the shelter came from the Homeless Prevention Committee. The committee is made up of folks from the City of Gastonia, Gaston County, and other organizations helping the homeless.Earlier this year a study, called Point-In-Time, calculated that there were about 500 homeless people in Gaston, Lincoln,and Cleveland counties.
Massive "The River District" project to make debut in 2023
The River district is a planned project just across the Catawba River from Gaston County. It will be a massive project combining retail, office, and a range of housing and hotel options. The entire project may be similar to Ballantyne, and take up to 20 years to complete. They plan for approximately 40% of the land will remain green space.The first project will be called Westrow, a 70 acre community that will include
103,000 square feet of retail space, 174,000 square feet of offices and a 250-room hotel. The community’s residential phase includes over 500 apartments, 58 townhomes and 48 single-family homes.
Brixx Pizza- what did we do wrong? Bad Daddy's still loves us...Brixx Pizza is going strong- just not in Gastonia. They recently won five stars in Newsweek's "America's Favorite Restaurant Chains."Unfortunately the Gastonia Brixx is closed, and it is no longer listed on the company website as a location. Brixx was founded in Charlotte in 1998. Bad Daddy's Burger Bar also got five stars, and we do have one of those. They were also founded in Charlotte.
Time to sign up for dance classes!
Piedmont Lithium opens 2nd Gaston County office in CherryvilleBelmont based Piedmont Lithium has opened a second office at 116 East Main Street in downtown Cherryville. The company said the now location will be
"a hub for community engagement related to our proposed Carolina Lithium project as well as the headquarters for the Piedmont Lithium Foundation: Power for Life,"Lithium is a vital ingredient for the batteries used in electric cars. The company continues to work towards getting permits and approvals in place, which they hope will be completed in 2023, so that construction can begin in 2024.
Gaston County Emergency Management receives $50k grant from Duke EnergyGaston County Emergency Management received a $50k grant from the Duke Energy Foundation.The grant is support an interactive fire safety and severe weather educational trailer. The Gaston interactive trailer contains information to prepare for industrial incidents and fires. It has a severe weather package that teaches critical life-saving measures. The foundation says the trailer will help Gaston County reach an often under served and diverse population that suffers disproportionately in emergency response situations.
Albemarle Corp exploring reopening Closed Kings Mountain lithium mineAlbemarle Corp. acquired the closed Kings Mountain lithium mine in 2015. The mine had closed in 1988 when it became to expensive to mine there, and mining moved to other countries. Since acquiring the mine, Albemarle has been moving forward with a study in hopes of resuming mining operations there. Kings Mountain “mine studies continue to progress positively,” the company said recently.
Clara's Trip a success!
Clara's Trip, a dance and cirque production by Gastonia's own Caroline Calouche is once again a resounding success. Tickets may still be available for the last performance tonight, on a very limited basis. You can check here...
You're invited! Winter Walk Club with SRTT Cramerton
FREE EVENT - Join us at Confluence for a family friendly walk around Cramerton with the local chapter of She Runs This Town!
This will be about a 2 mile walk and the route will change weekly! Take a break from the hustle of the season, stretch your legs, and check out the holiday lights that are on display in an up-close and personal way that you wouldn't get through a car window!
Belmont's Festival of Trees is open in Stowe Park every day and evening through January 1st. In the upper field of Stowe Park there is Oh Starry Night, luminaries will be lit every night throughout December.All proceeds from the Oh Starry Night Luminary Campaign will benefit pediatric cancer patients and families.
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.
Have something to say about local traffic?Did you know that Gaston County sends about 25% of their workers to Mecklenburg County every day?
So what are the transportation options are available in Gaston County? The City of Gastonia has bus service to most of the city of Gastonia. AMTRAK has a station in Gastonia, and the NCDOT contracts with a private operator for daily round-trip service between Boone and Charlotte, with stops in Gastonia and Lincolnton. The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) operates an express bus service (85X- Gastonia Express) from Gastonia and Belmont to uptown Charlotte.The majority of travel is by private vehicle...and if you drive to Charlotte for work, you are already painfully aware of that fact. Think changes need to be made? Want to comment on the traffic plan for the next 30 years,here's your chance!
Panthers lose to the Steelers at home, 24-16Going into Sunday's game, the Panthers hoped to rely on their running game, and for Sam Darnold to throw the ball just enough to keep the Steelers defense honest. But like they say in boxing, all the planning goes out the window the first time you get hit in the mouth. The Panthers had 21 yards on 16 carries; certainly not a recipe for success.Anything positive? Wide receiver DJ Moore had another good day, with 5 receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown. Kicker Eddie Pineiro continues to impress, with 3 of 3 field goal attempts, and one extra point. Safety Jeremy Chinn had 14 tackles, and 1 pass defensed.Sam Darnold made some good throws, but Carolina’s defense didn’t show up, the offensive line was poor, and the running game became non-existent when needed most.
Give the gift of life: BloodHospitals in North Carolina have a 1 to 2 day supply of blood. Can you help?Find a blood drive through the Red Cross here...Find a blood drive through OneBlood here...
Hosting an event?Let us help you get the word out- purchase an event listing!
Gaston County JobsApplication Development Gaston County $74-$118k, Events Coordinator-Whitewater Center $40-$51k, Marine Service Tech $52-$65k, Airport Terminal Operations Agent $19-$22 hr, and more.
