It was this past Sunday night, and I was lying in bed with my 2-year-old son, reading Goodnight Moon and hoping he'd finally wear himself out.

If you've ever had a toddler, you know what a struggle bedtime can be.

And then my phone buzzed.

My mom texted to tell me that Michael Graff, publisher of The Charlotte Optimist had mentioned me and Hello, Gaston! in his newsletter. She accidentally called him "Michael Graffitti," thanks to autocorrect, but I knew exactly who she meant.

Michael had given us a kind shout-out in after we announced that we were moving from a once-a-week newsletter to a twice-a-week newsletter. It was unexpected, thoughtful, and something I'll remember for a long time.

It wasn't a long mention. Just a couple of sentences. 36 words to be exact.

But sometimes that's all it takes.

We spend a lot of time talking about technology and AI these days. Both can do some remarkable things. But neither can replace the simple act of one person encouraging another.

I was talking with someone yesterday about how Hello, Gaston! works behind the scenes. Metrics, dashboards, social media, deadlines. All of that matters.

But at its heart, this newsletter has always been about community.

It's about people noticing people. Celebrating neighbors. Saying someone's name. Letting them know their work matters.

So I want to publicly thank you, Michael, for noticing ours.

My hope is that Hello, Gaston! continues to do the same for the people who make Gaston County such a special place.

A big congratulations to Scott Carlson, who won this month's Ghost Peppers ticket giveaway! He'll be cheering on the Gastonia Ghost Peppers as they host the Lexington Legends this Saturday night at CaroMont Health Park.

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Drive down Bud Wilson Road south of Gastonia and you might spot Dot and Tina, two zebras owned by Junior Thompson. The striped pair have become a popular roadside attraction. Queen City News photojournalist Scott Grossman recently featured the duo, who happily accept apples, carrots or bread from visitors.

Celebrate National Park and Recreation Month with a cool treat at the Dallas Park Splash Pad. Gaston County Parks & Recreation will hand out free freeze pops from 11 a.m. to noon on July 17 and 24, while supplies last, during its Freeze Pop Fridays celebration.

From pumpkin patches to festivals, fundraisers and grand openings, fall is almost here. If you want thousands of Gaston County locals to know about your event, reserve your Hello, Gaston! advertising spot before they're gone. Reach out today! 

The Mount Holly Historical Society will host local historian Kent Hester on July 28 for a free presentation exploring Gaston County's textile mills, the people who built them and the lasting impact they had on communities across the county.

WSGE 91.7, the independent public radio station broadcasting from Gaston College, launched Summer Sessions yesterday. The live music series features local, regional and touring artists performing intimate studio concerts throughout the summer, giving listeners a chance to discover new music.

More than 200 young anglers took part in Gaston County Parks and Recreation's annual Kids Catfish Tournament, reeling in an impressive 146 fish. The day's biggest prize wasn't measured in pounds though. Just look at the photos! The smiles on those kids' faces say it all…

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.

Thursday (7/16) — Lexington Legends @ 7 p.m.
Friday (7/17) — Lexington Legends @ 7 p.m.
Saturday (7/18) — Lexington Legends @ 7 p.m.
Sunday (7/19) — Lexington Legends @ 4 p.m.

Brighter Days Camp for Children
📍 Shining Hope Farms, Mount Holly
📅 Tuesday, August 4
⏰ 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Children ages 5 to 16 who have experienced the loss of a loved one are invited to this free, counselor-led day camp featuring nature activities, art, and interactions with gentle horses to help process grief in healthy ways. Registration is required by Monday, July 27. More Details. ($)

Charcuterie Workshop
📍 Wren & Ivy Salon, Gastonia
⏰ 6 to 8 p.m.
Learn how to build a beautiful charcuterie board during this fun, hands on workshop. More Details.

Pickleball Fun
📍 Woodlawn Park, Mount Holly
⏰ 6 to 8 p.m.
Players ages 16 and older are invited for a free evening of pickleball, exercise and friendly competition. More Details.

The Art of Poetry Vol. 2
📍 Nellie's Southern Kitchen, Belmont
⏰ 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Experience an evening of powerful spoken word performances on the rooftop overlooking historic downtown Belmont. More Details.

Freeze Pop Friday
📍 Dallas Park Splash Pad, 1303 Dallas Cherryville Highway
⏰ 11 a.m. to noon
Celebrate National Park and Recreation Month with free freeze pops while supplies last at the splash pad. Cool off, enjoy the park and make summer memories with family and friends. More Details.

Dark Belmont Walking Tour
📍 Primal Brewery, Belmont
⏰ 8 to 9 p.m.
Explore Belmont's haunted history on a guided evening walking tour through downtown. Advance registration is required. More Details.

Ranlo's July Milltown Night
📍 Ranlo Park
⏰ 5 to 9 p.m.
Enjoy a classic car show, live music, food trucks, fireworks, vendors and family fun during this free community celebration. More Details.

Live Music with David Childers
📍 Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly
⏰ 6 to 9 p.m.
Spend the evening enjoying live music from acclaimed North Carolina songwriter David Childers. More Details.

Blues Night at The Rooster
📍 The Rooster, Gastonia
⏰ 8 to 11 p.m.
The Ross Osteen Band joins Full Service Blues for an evening of blues and Southern rock. More Details.

Next Stop Comedy
📍 Primal Brewery, Belmont
⏰ 8 to 11 p.m.
Catch a fresh lineup of touring stand up comedians during this comedy showcase at Primal Brewery. More Details.

Summer House Garden Tour
📍 Creekside Nursery, Dallas
⏰ 10 to 11 a.m.
Join Jerry and Jenny for a guided tour showcasing summer garden color along with seasonal gardening and maintenance tips. More Details. 

Christmas in July
📍 Venue at Turkey Ridge, Kings Mountain
⏰ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shop more than 40 local vendors while enjoying food, drinks, live music and festive family fun. More Details.

Christmas in July at Confluence
📍 Confluence, Cramerton
⏰ Noon to 9 p.m.
Celebrate with holiday themed games, crafts, trivia, costumes and live music during this summer celebration. More Details.

Pickin' on the Porch with Tim Hong
📍 Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont
⏰ 2 to 4 p.m.
Enjoy an afternoon of acoustic favorites from the 1970s through the 1990s at the Trailhead Store. More Details.

Glow Basketball
📍 Lowell Recreation Center
⏰ 6 to 9 p.m.
Youth are invited to enjoy glow in the dark basketball with music, games and plenty of neon fun. 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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Was there something I missed this week? Let me know at [email protected]. Want to get your business in Hello, Gaston!? Let’s talk!