Good morning Gaston County! David here.
Today is September 15th, 2026.
So this weekend we took our old Porsche to the picnic at the pond in Bessemer City. My wife made an apple cake that would make you slap your mama! A beautiful setting, amazing food and people. Lot’s of really cool cars: Porsches, MGs, Triumphs, Austin Healeys, Jaguars, a vintage Range Rover, and more. And the rain held off!
Have a great week guys!
Today's weather: Finally! Partly sunny and not as hot, with lower humidity. The high will be 84.
Tonight: Clear with a low of 63.
Ella May Wiggins mural by world renowned artist Osiris Rain unveiled yesterday
The Ella May Wiggins mural by renowned artist Osiris Rain was unveiled yesterday in Bessemer City. Yesterday was the 96th anniversary of her murder… she was killed carrying the torch of social justice. The mural is at the corner of 12th and Virginia Streets in Bessemer City.
The mural is on panels, and building owner had agreed to host the mural there for at least ten years.
The Honey Hunters wont just go away quietly
The City of Gastonia has moved to force Gastonia Airline LLC into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The City wants to reclaim three parcels adjacent to the stadium owned by Gastonia Airline. . Gastonia Airline is an entity associated with Brandon Bellamy, owner of the Honey Hunters.
Gastonia wants the bankruptcy court to order liquidation of the Bellamy properties so that the City can reclaim the three parcels in question. The City says that Gastonia Airline LLC assumed the obligations of the original agreement, which stated that the parcels must be re-conveyed back to the City if improvements were not made that would generate increased tax revenue within five years. At this point is has been nearly six years, and the tracts sit vacant.
Gastonia Airline has the tracts barricaded so that parking is not allowed. The court is expected to rule on September 21.
Opening Reception: September 25th, 6PM-9PM
107 West Central Avenue, Mount Holly, NC 28120
Grandma Hoyt’s has closed
It looks like Grandma Hoyt’s Country Buffet had closed due to family illness. They had been there since 1994, and were located at 421 East Virginia Avenue in Bessemer City. BUT- they are still doing catering for groups of 25 or more. You can reach them at [email protected] or at 704-629-9440.
I didn’t go often, because I loooooove good buffets (and they are rare). It was always delicious, and they were always busy. Good iced tea too.
Picnic at the pond
A group of us fellas and our better halves had our annual picnic on Saturday at the pond in Bessemer City. The rain held off (mostly) and we ate some delicious food. We are all part of the Broad River European Motor Club, or the Catawba Valley British Car Club.
One car that got a lot of attention was the Triumph Herald. It’s the small white hardtop on the right. The Herald was made from 1959-1971 by the Standard Triumph Company of Coventry England. The entire front end flips up so the car can be serviced.
Emily Andress presents “The Four Turnings” exhibit
Emily Andress presented an informal conversation about The Four Turnings, a body of work inspired by the book The Fourth Turning by Neil Howe and William Strauss. Their exploration of recurring historical cycles became the starting point for a series of paintings that examines how history, and our own lives, move through seasons of growth, awakening, unraveling, and crisis. Rather than offering answers, these paintings ask questions. Why do we repeat the same patterns? What shapes us as individuals and as a society? And what can we learn when we begin to recognize where we are in the cycle?
Emily shared the stories behind the paintings, the ideas that sparked the series, and how history, mythology, psychology, and personal experience came together in this body of work. Guests are encouraged to ask questions and join the conversation as together we explore what it means to navigate times of profound change.
There are four painting in the exhibit; they are each eight feet tall, and complex and super interesting. They are on exhibit at the Gaston County Museum of Art & History at 131 West Main Street in Dallas.
No fish for you-Captains Cap in Belmont has closed
The interwebs say that Captain’s Cap in Belmont has closed. The rumors are that a car wash is going in that location.
A phone recording at the Belmont location of Captain’s Cap said “Captain’s Cap is closed. Please visit our other location.” They have another location at 3140 Linwood Road in Gastonia.
Alexandra Pizza, Museum Director
The Gaston County Museum of Art & History to receive three awards
The Gaston County Museum of Art & History is pleased to announce they will be the recipient of three 2026 Southeastern Museums awards at the 75th annual Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) on September 30 in Winston-Salem.
One award is in the Museum Leadership category and two are in the Technology Competition category.
The first award will be presented to Alexandrea Pizza, director of the Art & History Museum. The Museum Leadership Award, initiated in 1994, recognizes mid-career museum professionals who have shown significant advancement within the profession by leadership in museum activities at their institution, within the museum profession as a whole and especially in the southeast region. Ms. Pizza was nominated by her peers who deeply admire her exceptional museum leadership, vision, integrity, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the people of the community as director of the Art & History Museum.
The second award, a Gold Award, will be given for the Museum’s video production Making the Exhibit: The Old-Fashioned Way, a documentary produced in conjunction with the Gaston County Communications Department that chronicled the planning and installation of the Tony’s Ice Cream feature exhibit. That exhibit was on display at the Museum from March 2025 through May 2026.
The third award, a Bronze Award in virtual media, will be given for the Highland Neighborhood Public Art Website Project, a collaboration with Gastonia’s Highland neighborhood, Kintegra Health, The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and the Highland School of Technology.
Gaston Aquatics movie screening, dinner, silent auction- and you’re invited!
Our fundraising event, featuring the film When Everyone Swims, reflects Gaston Aquatics' vision of bringing our community together through aquatics. The film highlights the powerful impact that swimming and access to water can have on individuals and communities, while our event helps bring that same vision to life here in Gaston County.
Use this link to join us on Friday, September 25th from 6:00 - 9:00 pm for the screening, dinner, silent auction, and a construction update about Gaston Aquatics! We are excited to splash into this movie screening with you! Info and tix…
Have you been to Shelli’s She Shed yet?
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-3pm
980-318-3816
106 W. Dallas Rd.. Stanley , NC 28164
Gaston County Jobs
All jobs are in Gaston County, or within 15 minutes of Gaston County
Hey-you need a friend?
Animal ID 61697193
Species Dog
Breed Great Dane/Mix
Age 3 months 5 days
Gender Female
Size Small
Color Cream
Declawed No
Housetrained Unknown
Site GCACE
Location Dog Stray
Intake Date 9/8/2026
Stage New Arrival
