Holidays at the Garden opens Friday at Daniel StoweGood morning Gaston County, it's David.  Today is November 26th, 2024Happy turkey day! Are you more excited about your Thanksgiving feast, seeing all the family, or shopping till you drop on Black Friday? I'm looking forward to football, food, and family.Please try and support your local small businesses!

Tuesday's weather:Today will be a shower in the area early in the morning;with  intervals of clouds and sunshine The high will be 69.Tonight will be partly cloudy and much colder The low will be 35Weather for Thanksgiving Day:.Expect rain and a thunderstorm, with a high of 66.

Holidays at the Garden start Friday

Holidays at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden start this Friday. They will be open November29 through December 29, 5-10 daily, closed Mondays

New non-profit cosmetology school "Paramount" to open in downtown Gastonia

We told you two weeks ago about a new non-profit cosmetology school opening at the historic Saint Stevens AME Zion Church in Gastonia. We talked with Somer Wilson, co-owner of the William Henry Salons about the new school:

GA: Somer- how exciting! Tell us about the new school? 

Somer: I would love to! It has been a dream of mine and my husband Preston’s to open a cosmetology school probably going on 15 years now. When he opened William Henry in 2005 his intention was to create a beautiful place for hairstylists and guests alike. Being the creative he is he opened with a different model and vision in mind than most salon owners. He wanted a place to continue his grandfathers legacy but also a home for beauty professionals to come and be entrepreneurs. Being entrepreneurs ourselves we envisioned a school where we could not only teach the art of cosmetology but also encourage and grow future business leaders in our industry. And the cherry on top for me is that our school, Paramout Institute of Cosmetic Arts will celebrate the life and legacy of my grandparents Phil & Reatha Poovey. My Papaw had the biggest heart for serving others and was the worlds greatest entrepreneur. My Mamaw was the rock. She was the light in the room and an encouragement to everyone. She is also to thank for my good genes as a hairstylist because she was a stylist herself. 

GA: What a historic location! How did that happen? 

Somer: It is kind of a miracle of a story. Last year we decided to start some new ventures in downtown Gastonia when another piece of the William Henry story was revealed ... that's a whole other story! Through Preston’s involvement with city development and the dream of revitalizing Gastonia to the bustling town it once was he was introduced to Pastor Dewberry of AME Zion Church on Martin Luther King Jr Way. If you know Preston and his love for history and churches then you know it only took one meeting and he had a vision!

 GA: We understand the school will be not for profit? Why? What opportunities does that present? 

Somer: Yes! We are very excited to be able to bring a fresh perspective and way of providing education in the beauty industry by being a non-profit. It has always been our mission to serve others well and with a generous heart. Its no secret in a world of greed that most people would believe we are just in it to make money, but for us its so much more than that. Its about continuing a legacy of light and generosity. We want to be able to provide an opportunity for students to possibly get scholarships by the way of donations from other non-profits and people in the community. The school will not be owned by one person but rather overseen and held accountable by a board of 10 individuals. Just like any school there will be a tuition cost and it will operate very similarly but we believe this is a great way for others to invest in the future of our youth. 

GA: Will you keep the building as is, or? 

Somer: The church will stay just the same and as beautiful on the outside as its always been. Of course we will create a stunning salon floor area for our students and their guests, as well as gorgeous classroom spaces. I think we are most excited about the ways we can preserve and integrate the church’s history and beauty into the story of our school. We really want to honor what was and celebrate the new life that's about to be revealed.

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 featsA heartwarming story filled with holiday cheerFun for the whole family—perfect for a holiday outing!Event Details: 📍 Location: Booth Theatre📅 Dates: December 27-29🎟️ Tickets: Available now here. 

Ice skating now open at the Whitewater CenterThe ice is open and ready at the Whitewater Center. And they will actually be open on Thanksgiving Day (and Christmas Day) from 4-10 PM.

Vitality Anti-Aging Center & Medical Spa now open in Belmont

Emily Goodrich and Grace Mclaurin have partnered to bring a luxury medical spa to Belmont. Vitality Anti- Aging Center & Medical Spa is now open at 1105 Spruce Street. If you are looking for quality health and beauty treatments visit us today! We offer:*Botox*Fillers*Facials*Brow waxing/Laminating*Tixel*Cool sculpting*Sculptra1105 Spruce Street, Suite 100B, Belmont   704-461-8393

New (mobile) coffee spot

Meredith Mann has opened a mobile coffee shop, spending most days at the Gastonia Municipal Airport. Typically she is open at the airport from 8-12 Tuesday through Friday, but you can check her schedule on her Facebook page here.

Belmont Turkey Trot 5k to benefit Catherine's HouseWhat: 5k Walk/Run through Downtown Belmont. The success of our Turkey Trot is due to the generosity of your donations! Thank you!

Where:

Lutheran Church of the Holy Comforter located at 216 N. Main Street Belmont, NC 28012When

:

November 28, 2024 7:00AM-10:00AM Run/Walk begins at 8AM

Register

David Weekly Homes trying to push project forward  off Union New Hope RoadDavid Weekly Homes is pushing to have 262.8 acres off of Union New Hope Road rezoned to allow 650 homes and townhouses. But Gastonia City Council members have concerns about potential traffic problems in the area.Mayor Pro Tem Dave Kirlin led a push to continue the public hearing and delay a decision for 60 days. Council members are expected to bring the matter back up on January 18th.

Sammy's Restaurant & Pub in Dallas is now the Dallas Tavern & Taphouse. They opened yesterday with a new name and a new menu. Check it out here.

Belmont Abbey makes list of largest Charlotte Metro collegesAccording to the Charlotte Business Journal, Belmont Abbey is the 6th largest college in the Charlotte Metro area, based on students. Belmont Abbey currently has 1,687 students.Their in-state and out-of-state tuition is the same, at $19,500 per year. For comparison, UNC Charlotte is $3812 per year, Davidson is $63,580, and Gardner Webb University is $34,380 per year.

Gastonia getting electric scootersThe Gastonia City Council is partnering with Koder LLC, which operates as Peel Scooters, in a one year contract.  The scooters operate within a geoboundary, which causes the scooters to stop if they exceed the boundary.The program will start with an initial 25 scooters.

Allen Steam Station to be decommissionedAfter 67 years, the Allen Steam Station is being decommissioned. It will eventually become a battery storage facility.Over the next few months, the five red and white smokestacks will eventually come down. One of the five will have to be taken down by hand, due to  structural instability. Engineers  don't believe the structure can withstand the weight of heavy equipment.The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has approved a plan to bury just under 20 million tons of  coal ash on-site.

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.

Miami Fusion Cafe

Did you know Gastonia has a women's rugby team? Neither did we!  Meet the Gaston County Hell Hounds. Check out their Facebook here

by Richard Walker

Coming off back-to-back Region 10 regular season titles, Gaston College softball head coach Mike Steuerwald's team was eager to get back to work this fall as it prepared for the 2025 spring season.

After a fall schedule against challenging NCAA Division I and Division II competition, Steuerwald thinks his Rhinos will be prepared for the upcoming season that begins Jan. 24 at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

"We're excited about where we're at and we're mostly healthy," Steuerwald said of the recently-completed fall drills. "A key for us is that all the freshman who played last season have a year under their belts and they were a lot more comfortable playing the difficult fall schedule."Last year, we were probably overwhelmed in some of those situations. This year, I think we competed really well."

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 JobsCost Accountant, Dallas,  Assembler w/ Honeywell in Clover, Dental Asst II, Gastonia form $23 hr, SolidWorks Designer $21-$24 hr, Plant Mgr, Gastonia, from $85k, and more...Info...