Highland Neighborhood Association | |
Join us at the next
Highland Neighborhood Association Meeting
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**Tuesday, August 12, 2025**
5:30 pm dinner, 6:00 pm meeting starts
Highland Health Center - Community Classroom
Located on the lower level in the rear of the building
609 N. Highland St., Gastonia, NC 28052
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Stay informed about what's going on in Highland:
Check out our new website!
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Alliance for Community Enrichment (A.C.E)
Program Newsletters
The Alliance for Community Enrichment (A.C.E.) publishes a monthly newsletter. These newsletters will provide information on upcoming City-sponsored events, opportunities for public engagement and public comment periods, highlights from the City's Recognized Communities, and much more.
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Highland Fest 2025 Recap:
Community, Connection, and Celebration!
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Highland Fest 2025 was a resounding success! Held in the heart of the neighborhood, the event brought together residents of all ages to enjoy food, music, games, and great company. As part of the celebration, we also launched a NEW member recruitment drive — and we're thrilled to report several new people signed up to receive our monthly newsletter!
The fun didn’t end there. To wrap up the festivities, we hosted a community pool party, where neighbors enjoyed refreshments, swimming, and a chance to relax and connect in a more casual setting. Music, laughter, sunshine, ice cream, and a sense of unity made for the perfect ending to a week-long event.
Thank you to all who participated, volunteered, and helped make Highland Fest a success. If you missed it this year, don’t worry —there's always next year!
| | HIGHLAND PARK PUBLIC ART PROJECT | | |
The Highland Art Project is transforming the heart of the Highland neighborhood into a vibrant canvas for culture, identity, and community pride. This creative initiative brings together local artists, residents, and youth to create public art that reflects the rich history and future promise of the Highland community.
From bold murals to sidewalk poetry and interactive installations, the Highland Art Project is more than just beautification—it’s a form of storytelling. Each piece created helps reclaim public space, celebrate local voices, and spark dialogue around the values and vision of the neighborhood. The project also provides meaningful opportunities for community members to get involved:
- Youth art workshops and mentorships
- Neighborhood paint days and art walks
- Collaborative design sessions that center community voices
By investing in public art, we’re also investing in health, safety, and belonging. Research shows that community-driven art can reduce social isolation, promote mental wellness, and even decrease crime by creating a greater sense of ownership and pride in shared spaces.
The Highland Art Project is supported through a partnership between community leaders, local nonprofits, and neighborhood residents—and is part of a broader effort to lift historically under-resourced areas with creativity and care. Together, we are painting a brighter future for Highland—one wall, one brushstroke, one story at a time.
| | HABITAT CRITICAL ACCESS PROGRAM IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS | | The Critical Home Repair Program helps low-income homeowners stay safely in their homes by addressing vital health, safety, and accessibility needs. With repairs like roofing, accessibility ramps, electrical updates, and weatherization, homeowners pay only a small portion of the cost—the rest is supported through volunteer labor, donations, and affordable no‑ or low‑interest terms—so families can remain in place with dignity and stability. | | HABITAT ROCK THE BLOCK IN HIGHLAND IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS | Rock the Block is a place-based revitalization event where Habitat, volunteers, homeowners, and community partners come together—typically over one to three days—to complete small exterior repairs and beautification projects within a designated neighborhood. Rock the Block in Highland is scheduled for Saturday, September 20th. Complete and return the application to give your house a refresh! | |
Celebrating Farmers Market Week: A Local Investment in Health and Community
National Farmers Market Week (August 3–9, 2025) is a time to celebrate the vital role that local farmers' markets play in strengthening our communities and improving access to fresh, nutritious food.
Farmers' markets are more than just places to shop—they are hubs of connection, health, and equity. In Gaston County, we’re proud to support a growing network of markets that offer affordable, locally grown produce, support small-scale farmers, and help build a stronger local food system.
This year, Farmers Market Week also allows us to highlight the innovative ways our markets are expanding access to underserved residents. Through programs like the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program and fruit and vegetable incentives, we are working to ensure that everyone—regardless of age, income, or zip code—can enjoy the benefits of fresh, local food.
Our markets are also a space where community thrives. From nutrition demos and gardening tips to live music and health screenings, markets bring together people of all ages to learn, grow, and celebrate what makes our local food system special.
As we celebrate this week, we invite you to:
- Visit your neighborhood market
- Share your favorite local food stories on social media
- Volunteer with local food access programs
- Support farmers of color and women-owned farm businesses
By supporting local markets, we’re investing in a healthier future for all.
| | | | AUGUST BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS!! | | |
Albert Moss
Allen Lowery
Donyel Barber
Macie Clary
Starla Littlejohn
Vernon Barnett
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Do you or a family member have a birthday or special event coming up? Let us celebrate with you! Contact Regina Knox at knoxregina@hotmail.com for details on how to share your good news in future newsletters.
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
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Operation Fan Heat Relief 2025
A program to provide a more comfortable living environment and reduce heat-related illnesses
Operation Fan Heat Relief 2025 is upon us. Thanks to the donations made by the Duke Energy Foundation, Gaston County will have a limited number of box fans to distribute to eligible Gaston County residents who meet the requirements outlined below.
Why is this program important?
As individuals age and develop chronic medical conditions, they are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature. They may also be taking medications that can worsen the impact of extreme heat. Operation Fan Heat Relief helps vulnerable adults at risk for heat-related illnesses stay safe in the summer.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be 60 years or older OR an adult with a disability that worsens with heat
- Must reside in Gaston County
- Must have a home situation where a threat to health or well-being exists related to summer heat
Call the Department of Social Services Adult & Aging Services at 704-862-7540 to reserve a fan today before they run out. For more tips on how to stay safe in hot weather, click the button below.
| | Help Make Highland Healither! | | August Health Observances | | | | |
