🌱 See how Gastonia’s Highland Tech beat Charlotte’s biggest high schools
Gastonia, North Carolina Patch AM: a 5 min readGreetings Gastonia! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- See how Gastonia’s Highland Tech beat Charlotte’s biggest high schools
- Can Stuart Cramer’s loaded roster shake up Gastonia-area football in 2026?
- How a Gastonia barber turned spine surgery into a world record
Also on today's calendar: Gastonia Ghost Peppers vs. High Point Rockers and 3 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the tree say when Spring arrived? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Friday: Humid with a heavy t-storm, with a high of 84 and low of 69 degrees.
- Saturday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 82, low: 69.
- Sunday: A t-storm around in the p.m., with a high of 85 and low of 67 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Charlotte-area high schools claim top spots in U.S. News' ranking (wsoctv.com) — Gastonia’s Highland School of Technology has been ranked the No. 1 public high school in the Charlotte metro for the second straight year by U.S. News & World Report. The magnet school also placed ninth in North Carolina and 344th nationally, edging out well-known Charlotte and Union County schools based on college readiness, test scores, and graduation rates. 
2. Here's why Stuart Cramer football optimistic it can level up in 2026 (gastongazette.com) — Stuart Cramer’s football team is riding high after a 42-6 opening win over Forestview and returns 15 starters from last season’s historic playoff run. With key players back, transfers from East Gaston and Mountain Island Charter, and a Week 2 home game against North Gaston before facing Shelby and other powers, the Storm believe they can elevate Gastonia-area football expectations in 2026.
3. Gastonia barber battles adversity for Guinness World Record (gastongazette.com) — A Gastonia barber, Molly Prescott, has set a Guinness World Record by completing five skin-fade haircuts in under 12 minutes at CaroMont Health Park, drawing new customers to her South Street shop. After overcoming emergency spine surgery just days before her attempt, she says her goal is to spotlight Gastonia, attract more investment, and show why she chose to build her business and life here.
4. Adventure Landing to raffle off iconic park decor to public (wunc.org) — Gastonia residents still have their own Adventure Landing location, even as the longtime Raleigh park on Capital Boulevard has closed and plans to raffle off its quirky decor, including that giant shark head. The story explains how the Raleigh site abruptly shut down after 38 years and notes which other Adventure Landing parks around the country remain open.
📸 Around Gastonia
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Gastonia
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Road To Brewstock →
The Rooster, 334 W Main Ave, Gastonia
7:30 pm
Friday August 28
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
Title I Curriculum Night
Brookside Elementary Gastonia, NC 28054
5:00 pm -
State Health Plan Information Session (at Stuart W. Cramer)
Warlick Academy Gastonia, NC 28054
6:00 pm -
Story Time @ Union Road In-Person
Union Road Branch Library Branch Library - Meeting Room, Union Road Branch
10:30 am -
Gastonia Ghost Peppers vs. High Point Rockers →
CaroMont Health Park, 800 W Franklin Blvd, Gastonia
7:00 pm -
Comfortable Shirt: Live From Durty Bull Brewing in Gastonia! →
Durty Bull Brewing Company, 126 S Trenton St, Gastonia
7:00 pm
Thursday September 3
Friday September 4
Friday September 18
📣 Gastonia Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
-
Closed Sundays In-Person
Jacob S. Mauney Memorial Library Mauney Memorial Library, 100 S. Piedmont Ave -
Moss Lake Commission Meeting →
Kings Mountain, NC Calendar, Moss Lake Office, Kings Mountain
6:00 pm -
Downtown Gastonia Caffeine and Conversation September 2026 →
Gastonia Farmers Market, 410 E Long Ave, Gastonia
9:30 am -
1-on-1 Technology Help In-Person
Jacob S. Mauney Memorial Library Mauney Memorial Library, 100 S. Piedmont Ave
10:00 am -
Title I Curriculum Night
Brookside Elementary Gastonia, NC 28054
5:00 pm -
Planning and Zoning Board Meeting →
Kings Mountain, NC Calendar, 101 West Gold St, Kings Mountain
5:30 pm
Sunday August 30
Tuesday September 1
Thursday September 3
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Gastonia PatchAM possible:
- Roland Black Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Generators — 9802063523
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Lost Dog.
Found wandering the cramer woods neighborhood. No collar. Very sweet girl. (Nextdoor Cramer Woods) - Our outdoor cat has gone missing.
She wears an AirTag but we found it in the woods near our home still on the collar. We live in Pine Creek off Knotty Pine Trail. The woods around… (Nextdoor Susan Farms/Camden)
- The Guitar Center posted a job opening for Music Teacher Store 4208 in Gastonia. Apply here.
- PLS Financial Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Shift Supervisor in Gastonia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gastonia here.
Ok Gastonia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: What a re-leaf! (Thank you Flo G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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