Hello Gastonia! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Recovery court success stories, a llama trek, and Shrek the musical kids + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Statewide rural investment boost: North Carolina’s Rural Infrastructure Authority approved over $4 million in grants, including $272,000 for Gaston County to reuse a 550,000-square-foot McAdenville building, expected to create 34 jobs, spurring $23 million -- see what projects were funded.
Heat relief options expand: With temperatures reaching 95, Gastonia and Mecklenburg County community centers and libraries offer cool relief, and free rides are available through the city and CATS for residents -- see what services are available.
A second-chance program: Gaston County’s Recovery Court helps residents battling addiction rebuild lives with treatment, classes, community service, and drug tests, since its 2024 relaunch, eight graduates show progress, Judge Justin Davis says -- see how recovery court works.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Press start, no quarters: Classic Arcade and Pinball Museum packs 100-plus cabinets and pinball tables from the 60s to today, all set to free-play, so you can actually finish that game you loved as a kid. Perfect for a rainy afternoon or a low-stress date night, right here in Gastonia.
Neighborhood breather spot: Need a low-key place to stretch your legs without leaving Gastonia? Gastonia Optimist Club Park is a tidy neighborhood hangout for quick walks, kid energy-burns, and catch-up chats on a bench, ideal for a lunch-break lap or a no-fuss evening stroll when you need a little headspace.
Grow something great: If your yard is begging for a glow-up, New Hope Greenhouses and Garden Center has the locally savvy mix of annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and even landscaping help to make it happen, so you can plant now and brag later when the neighbors start asking for cuttings.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🎭 Shrek The Musical Kids @ Gaston School of the Arts | Thursday (6/25) at 7:00 PM – Nothing beats live theater where the kids steal the spotlight and you score grandparent points, swamp included. This pint-sized Shrek adventure brings Fiona, Donkey, and a whole lot of happily ever after energy, quality family time without the theme park price.
🎶 Stroll & Roll Friday Fun @ Kates Skating Rink | Friday (6/26) at 10:00 AM – Whether your playlist is 90s ballads or Disney earworms, this morning rink hang lets the kids roll while you coast on caffeine and nostalgia. Skates, scooters, trikes, and strollers welcome, and five bucks covers rentals, skate mates, and the play gym for the under-height crowd.
🦖 Dinosaurs; Past & Present @ BC@BC (Makerspace) (Bessemer City) | Friday (6/26) at 11:00 AM – Take your mini paleontologists to BC@BC, where Cassie Wyatt shows how some dinosaurs dodged extinction by becoming birds. Expect fossil facts, feathered revelations, and an explanation for why that jay in your yard struts like a tiny T. rex. For Pre-K to 5th.
🎆 June 26th Concert and Fireworks Show @ Bessemer City Centennial Park | Friday (6/26) at 6:00 PM – Friday night calls for lawn chairs, familiar riffs, and fireworks. Bessemer City Alive serves up an Eagles tribute you know by heart, then lights the sky, so you can hum along, swap neighborhood gossip, and remember when parking was easier.
🦙 Llama Trek @ The Schiele Museum of Natural History | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – Trade the treadmill for a half-mile woodland stroll on The Schiele Museum’s Nature Trail with a llama or alpaca, handler included, as you learn how these fluffy coworkers partner with people. Small groups, hands-on time, and shameless photo ops, with advance tickets and four hikers max.
🎺 Independence Day Celebration @ Centennial Center (Cramerton) | Saturday (6/27) at 6:00 PM – Whether you’re here for America’s 250th or just an excuse to unfold the lawn chair, Downtown Cramerton is throwing the big one. Coming Up Brass brings horn-fueled dance hits, the fireworks go big, you can sip and stroll, and the kids get free face paint.
🐍 The Care and Keeping of Unusual Pets @ Gaston County Public Library - Main | Tuesday (6/30) at 2:00 PM – Whether you are fielding kid petitions for a gecko, or quietly eyeing a tarantula, this hands-on session covers the proper care and keeping of unusual pets. Expect real talk, practical tips, and a scaly hello, because around here even the reptiles have community ties.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Gastonia report Weather forecastToday — High: 87°F — Low: 64°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 87. North northeast wind 1 to 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. East southeast wind around 2 mph.
Tomorrow — High: 91°F — Low: 70°F — Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 91. South southwest wind 0 to 7 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 70. This house is wildThis Asher plan at Patrick Commons delivers modern architecture with a timeless feel in a rare 10-home community. A vaulted great room flows into a chef’s kitchen with a massive island, luxury countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a 5-burner gas cooktop. The spa-inspired primary bath and oversized vaulted rear deck add a polished, private finish.
Take a peek inside → |
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