Savvy Citizen: A Gaston County Podcast

A Planned Party Co-host (and the Gaston County Planning & Zoning Director) Jamie Kanburoglu joins Savvy Citizen to talk about the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan update, and the ways in which it will help guide future decision-making for the growth of the county. You can review the final plan here: https://engagegaston.com/envision-gaston

Fresh off the American Planning Association - North Carolina Conference in Cherokee, Jamie and Peyton talk about new regulations (and challenges) for planning and zoning departments across North Carolina.

Gaston County United Way Executive Director Andrea Stephens stops by to talk about a special fundraiser that is all about America's great lady, Dolly Parton. The upcoming Boots, Belles, and Books event will feature a live performance of some of Dolly's music, with funds going to help with the recent growth of the Imagination Library in Gaston County. 

Gaston County Public Library's Bree Thurman and Gastonia adult fantasy author C.M. Lockhart talk with Savvy Citizen about the upcoming 2nd Annual Gaston Writers Expo, happening Saturday, November 7, from 10-2 at the library's main branch in Gastonia. The event has grown from year one to include nearly 40 different authors, writers and speakers, and will include a keynote address from Lockhart.

Gaston County Public Library Teen Librarian Kelly Lawniczak talks about the specialty award she won during the 2025 Gaston Globe awards for county staff, as well as some of the programming for middle school and high school students she helps organize that goes well beyond book clubs. 

With the start of early voting for the November general election kicking off next week, we're taking a look at issues surrounding public confidence in the election process. In this month's Savvier Citizen podcast, we talk to Allison Tomas with Principles for Trusted Elections, who helped organize a behind-the-scenes tour and Q&A session at the Gaston County Board of Elections last month, as well as VoteBeat editorial director Jessica Huseman, on how we can reassure skeptical residents about the fairness and security of our elections process. 

Each year, Gaston County honors some of its employees who go above and beyond their regular duties. One of those is Adrien Sanders, who helps run Gaston County's Adult Treatment Court. Hear from Adrien about the work being done that is changing lives for many in our community. 

This month's A Planned Party takes us to Cramerton, where Jamie and Peyton are talking with Town of Cramerton Planning Director Nolan Groce about some of the projects this community has on tap. 

Gaston Together Executive Director Leslie Lee and Mt. Zion Restoration Church Pastor Dr. Rodney Freeman talk about their piloting of a Safe Parking program -- a way to provide safety and services to those living out of their vehicles, with a helping hand to get them back on the road to success.

Did you know Gaston County is about to be home to one of the largest dinosaur exhibits in the Carolinas? The Schiele Museum is opening the Elizabeth Williams Robinson Hall of Dinosaurs to the public in a special Dino Days weekend September 26-27. We've got a pair of experts from the Schiele with an inside look at some of the amazing offerings in this exhibit.