A week or so ago, I wrote a few hundred words about my little girl, Amelia, getting ready to go to kindergarten.

And yesterday, she went.

Day 1 is officially in the books.

She walked into that school a little nervous and scared, and then emerged three hours later with a giant smile on her face.

As soon as I saw her, the line of questioning commenced.

“Did you make any new friends? Who did you play with?”

“Some boy,” she said.

“What was his name?”

She had no idea.

Kids don’t bother with names. Names are irrelevant. They have one job, and that’s to play.

I did learn something important, though. They allow kids to eat Doritos and Fruit Roll-Ups in kindergarten.

Phew. That’s a relief because that is what I sent. 

But what was the one thing I forgot to pack?

A drink.

Thankfully, they gave her chocolate milk. The girl was in heaven.

I’m not sure what all of this means, other than the hardest part might already be over.

The unknown is almost always the scariest part. We crave certainty, but life doesn’t always give it to us. Sometimes we have to take a deep breath, flex our brave muscle and walk through the door anyway.

That’s what Amelia did.

When I went to kindergarten, nobody phased us in. They just sent us all through the doors and hoped for the best.

But that was a long time ago. Sometimes those “good ol’ days” weren’t always so good, or easy.  When you know better, you do better.

I kind of like this phase-in approach. It gives children a chance to learn their way around the classroom, meet their teachers and realize that this scary thing called kindergarten might not be so scary after all.

Every spring, I love seeing the first-day and last-day kindergarten pictures that parents share. The growth, transformation and confidence that can emerge over 180 instructional days is remarkable.

But every 180-day journey has to begin with one.

And Day 1 might be the hardest of them all.

Bring on the next 179.

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Gastonia’s Central YMCA gym was demolished Tuesday, clearing the way for Franklin Yards, a mixed-use development planned for the site. The work prompted residents to share memories of basketball, racquetball, baseball and swimming at the longtime landmark as they look toward the property’s next chapter.

Bigfoot in the Park will send hunters searching George Poston Park’s trails from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. The family-friendly adventure begins at Base Camp, where guests can gather gear before following clues, plus enjoy local vendors, food trucks and activities.

Gastonia photographer Stephanie Sheffield captured an anole snoozing inside a flower in her front yard. The charming shot beat 2,795 other entries to win the grand prize in Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine’s annual photo competition. Sheffield told The News & Observer she was shocked by the honor.

The Rotary Community Garden of Gastonia will participate in the Great Southeast Pollinator Count from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22. Volunteers will help participants count pollinators, and no experience is needed to join this citizen science project.

Strong Like AK Executive Director Kim Webb inherited hundreds of her great-grandmother Pearl’s handwritten recipes. Now, she’s considering recreating one each month, from beloved pound cakes and mac and cheese to more questionable offerings like Jell-O salads and mincemeat casseroles.

Disclaimer: News items marked with ($) in this section indicate sponsored content.

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Belmont Farmers Market — Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Dallas Farmers Market — Select Sundays, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Gastonia Farmers Market — Tuesday, Thursdays & Saturday, 7:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. 
Kings Mountain Farmers Market — Saturday, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Mount Holly Farmers Market — Saturday, 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

Tuesday (8/18) — Charleston Dirty Birds @ 6 p.m.
Wednesday (8/19) — Charleston Dirty Birds @ 6 p.m.
Thursday (8/20) — Charleston Dirty Birds @ 7 p.m.

Saturday (8/15) — Buffalo Bills @ 1 p.m.

Crafted with Carolina Caring
📍 Muddy River Distillery, 250 N. Main St., Mount Holly
📅 Thursday, August 27
⏰ 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy a guided rum flight, paired small bites and an exclusive behind-the-scenes distillery tour supporting Carolina Caring. Tickets are $45, and proceeds help local patients and families. More Details. ($)

Windy Hill Orchard Opens for Fall
📍 Windy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill, York
⏰ 10 a.m.
Windy Hill Orchard opens its 2026 fall season with its farm stand, cider bar and activities scheduled through December. More Details.

Village Market
📍 Farmhouse Courtyard, 6500 S. New Hope Road, Belmont
⏰ 4 to 6 p.m.
Shop seasonal produce, baked goods, flowers, prepared foods and handcrafted items from local farmers and makers. Admission is free. More Details.

Music Bingo at Local Logic
📍 Local Logic, Mount Holly
⏰ 7 p.m.
Test your music knowledge and compete for prizes during Thursday night Music Bingo at Local Logic. More Details.

Mount Holly Nights: The Catalinas
📍 Downtown Mount Holly, 131 S. Main St., Mount Holly
⏰ 6 to 10 p.m.
Enjoy performances by Trace Casanova and The Catalinas, plus food trucks, a beer tent and a kids zone. Admission is free. More Details.

Next Stop Comedy
📍 Primal Brewery, Belmont
⏰ 8 p.m.
Next Stop Comedy brings a fresh lineup of touring stand-up comedians to Primal Brewery in Belmont. More Details.

August Vendor Market
📍 Falls Family Farms, 2954 Forbes Road, Gastonia
⏰ 10 a.m.
Shop locally made goods from area vendors during the farm’s monthly outdoor market. More Details.

Collector’s Vault Card Show
📍 Gastonian Halls, Gastonia
⏰ 10 a.m.
Browse sports cards, Pokémon cards, trading card games and other collectibles, with door prizes awarded throughout the day. More Details.

Pollinator Gardening Workshop
📍 Creekside Nursery, Dallas
⏰ 10 to 11 a.m.
Tour Mimi’s Monarch garden and learn how to attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators. More Details.

Back-to-School Bash With Transit Vocal Band
📍 Cramerton Centennial Center, Cramerton
⏰ 6 p.m.
Transit Vocal Band presents a kid-focused program at 6 p.m., followed by an all-ages a cappella concert at 7 p.m. Guests may bring school supplies to donate. More Details.

Clean Comedy Night
📍 Gastonian Halls, Gastonia
⏰ 6:30 p.m.
Try the open mic at 6:30 p.m., followed by a free, all-ages comedy show hosted by Craig Collin at 7 p.m. More Details.

Live Music feat. Michael Tracy w/ Kudzu Jam
📍 334 W. Main Ave., Gastonia
⏰ 8 p.m.
Michael Tracy and Gaston County’s Kudzu Jam perform an all-ages evening of rock, blues and Americana. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. More Details.

Movies in the Park feat. Homeward Bound
📍 Stowe Park, 24 S. Main St., Belmont
⏰ 8 p.m.
Bring a chair for a free outdoor showing of Homeward Bound plus retro arcade games, concessions and immersive sound. More Details.

Black Copperhead Sting 50K
📍 Rocky Branch Park, 103 Sacco St., Belmont
⏰ 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Runners take on the trails at Rocky Branch Park during this endurance event featuring 5K, 25K and 50K distances. More Details.

Bug Day
📍 The Schiele Museum of Natural History, 1500 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia
⏰ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meet insects and bug experts, play Bug Bingo, explore hands-on activities and watch brave contestants sample creepy-crawly cuisine. More Details.

Live Music feat. David Childers and Jason Ringenberg
📍 Confluence South Fork, 117 Center St., Cramerton
⏰ 7 to 10 p.m.
Enjoy a free evening of live music featuring North Carolina singer-songwriter David Childers and special guest Jason Ringenberg. More Details.

Watercolor Paint Your Pet
📍 Whiskerville Kitty Cat Cafe, 508 Beaty Road, Belmont
⏰ 3 to 5:30 p.m.
Create a watercolor portrait of your pet during a guided class surrounded by adoptable cats. The $45 ticket includes materials and cat lounge time. More Details.

Hannah Whitten and Jen Julian in Conversation
📍 Belmont Bookshop, 7 N. Main St., Belmont
⏰ 6:30 to 9 p.m.
New York Times bestselling author Hannah Whitten discusses her horror debut, “Reliquary,” with author Jen Julian. Admission includes a copy of the book. More Details.

Disclaimer: Event details are subject to change or cancellation. Please check with the event organizers for the most up-to-date information. We are not responsible for any changes after publication. Events marked with ($) in this section indicate sponsored content.

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