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David here-Happy 2021! Today is Tuesday January 5th.

For a lot of us, it is the 2nd day back to work, and back to the routine...hopefully the Christmas cookies are almost gone!
Today there will be times of clouds and sun, with a shower in spots, and a high of 53. Tonight it will be mainly clear, with a low of 34.

What did you do New Years Eve?

Avett Brothers stream live performance from Belk Theater

The Avett Brothers gave a live streamed performance New Year's Eve from the Belk theater. They played until about 11 PM, then had several guest artists, including Brandi Carlisle and local legend David Childers, among others. They finished up the night playing some acoustic tunes from their barn in Concord.

Registration for Covid vaccinations for ages 75 and up

Vaccinations are to begin Friday at the Gastonia Farmers Market for folks 75 and older as part of Group 1B, and also for Group1A, which includes any front line health care workers and first responders, as well as long term health care facility residents and staff. Call the County at 704-866-3170 to schedule a vaccination. You must have an appointment to receive a vaccine.More info here...

Positive Business Sentiment

According to Smartasset, business sentiment in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area is pretty positive -at least compared to the national average. Though 52.9% of small businesses nationally do not expect a return to normal levels of operations within six months or ever, less than 45% of small businesses in our area report that expectation.

Metro Charlotte tied with Baltimore for the No. 5 spot on the overall list, though only 24% of companies report having at least three months of cash on hand, landing in the bottom half of the survey on that metric. Nearly a third of companies here, or 32.3%, say they are operating at normal levels.

The area had the smallest percentage -39.6% - of small businesses that don’t foresee returning to normal operating levels in six months or ever. It may be a smaller percentage, but that's still a lot of economic damage, dreams shattered, and personal finances devastated.

Stanley man wins $100,000 in Holiday Scratch-off

A lot of us fantasize about what we would do if we won the lottery...or at least a Scratch-off. Joshua Brackett of Stanley was sitting around the kitchen table with his mother and brother with Scratch-off tickets he had bought at the Kingsway at Chapel Grove School Road over the holidays. He had bought two $20 Holiday Countdown tickets, and it turned out that one was worth $100,000. Brackett netted $70,756 after taxes. He plans to buy a new truck and save the rest. He is expecting a new baby in February.

Andy Warlick Brandon Bellamy

Two Gaston County Names make 2020 Newsmakers list

The Charlotte Business Journal included two names related to Gaston County on their 2020 Newsmakers list. The list also included sports notables David Tepper and Michael Jordan.

Andy Warlick, CEO of Gastonia based Parkdale Inc., led an effort to produce personal protective equipment to combat the spread of the virus Not only did this result in saved lives, but it saved local jobs as well.

Brandon Bellamy, CEO of Maryland-based commercial real estate firm Velocity Cos., was announced as the owner of the baseball team that will play at the new stadium at Gastonia’s Franklin Urban Sports and Entertainment District. Gaston County leaders (and citizens) are hopeful that the fuse project will revitalize the Gastonia downtown and Loray Mill area.

Saints wallop Panthers 33-7

The bad news? Panthers lost 33-7 and looked bad doing it. The good news? We get an 8th round draft pick. The 8th round is when we picked up Christian McCaffrey. With a pick that high, it is possible that we could pick up a top ranked quarterback, if they decide to go that way.
This was most likely Drew Bree's last regular season game. There was talk in the off season last year that he wasn't returning for another year..but he did. Winning a Superbowl would certainly cap off a Hall of Fame career.

Find out more about the Dream Center Academy

Following Etsy? Maybe you should after record year..

Etsy is an online retailer of home made, hand made, vintage and craft items. Their stock price started 2020 at $44.67 and closed December 31 at $183.13. Yahoo finance says it is overvalued at this point, but who knows.
Here are a few local Etsy retailers:

American Rose Cut Turquoise Silver Pendant With Chain by Susan Lambert Designs in Mt. Holly. $78

Tote bag with inside pocket by Custom Bags Plus of Belmont. $25.89

Entitled "Really?" , this is an . Original, one of a kind, acrylic, oil, painting, basset hound, pet portrait by ArtCotera from Gastonia. See this and other works here...

19 people dead in Gaston County

Wear a mask!

19 Gaston County People Have died of Covid-19 since last Tuesday

We have had 16,491 positive tests to date, and 263 people have died in Gaston County from the virus. 128 people are hospitalized with Covid, and 6 people are on ventilators. The largest group affected is ages 25-49. See interactive graphic here...

Duke's Mayonnaise and football go together like...?

Did you even know there was a Duke's mayo Bowl? (It used to be called the Belk Bowl.) Anyway, Wisconsin beat Wake Forest 42-28. And as 2020 would have it, Wisconsin accidentally shattered the glass trophy in the locker room.

So Homefield Apparel and the Charlotte Sports Foundation decided to commemorate the Mayo Bowl with a t-shirt, and you can order your very own through January 15th. Proceeds go directly to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. You don't have a Duke's Mayo t-shirt do you? Want one?

Gaston County Jobs

Juicy Crab-all positions, Starbucks barista, Telecommunicator-Gaston County Police,Construction Office Manager, Environmental Health & Safety Manager $75-80K, Real estate showing assistant , and more.

Gaston jobs here...

Looking for employees? Did you know that our "Who's Hiring in Gaston County?" is consistently one of our most clicked links? Contact us to find out more...

Interested in becoming a featured partner and reaching people all across Gaston County? Our advertising team can help. Contact us today to talk about how we can help your business thrive.

Mans' best friend

Meet Riley, he is a Bull Terrier. We were told he is around 9 years old, but he doesn't look or act like it. Riley is very sweet, laid back and likes to play with toys. He needs to be an only dog. Riley must be on a special diet to help with his skin. He is neutered, microchipped and up to date on vaccines.

Email [email protected] for an application.

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