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Hey Union County, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Pastor Osco Gardin Jr.’s 30-year legacy and STEM center, Tamar Slay’s sports medicine academy, and St. Patrick’s pint painting + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Union County protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

A lasting legacy spotlighted: Union County commissioners honored Senior Pastor Osco Gardin Jr. for 30 years at Historic Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, praising community leadership and a new STEM center opened through his nonprofit — read the full story.

Safety upgrades could cut crashes: Union County considers fixes for the Indian Trail intersection on Old Charlotte Highway at Hayes Road and Faircroft Way. Public meetings are planned and a report is expected in June — see how to get involved.

On and off the court: Former NBA player Tamar Slay opened a 20,000-square-foot Charlotte sports medicine facility with NBA-style courts, a sports science lab, and therapy, reflecting his coaching roots at a Waxhaw church — explore the academy’s features.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Paint and personalize a St. Patrick’s pint
• Meet trailblazing women through living history
• Buy mattresses to support Union Academy Band

🫶 We got your back

Not your average deli: Carolina Charcuterie & Catering turns cravings into stacked satisfaction with hot cutlets, Reubens, and loaded subs that hit the spot. When a “snack” becomes dinner, their charcuterie boards deliver, too. Expect bite-one proof it’s worth a weekly slot.

Brick nirvana for builders: If your bins run low or you’ve got sets to trade, Bricks & Minifigs Indian Trail delivers rotating prebuilt sets, retired gems, and scoop-your-own bulk bricks. It’s an easy midweek pop-in for a quick creativity reset.

Neighborhood nature fix: Between the splash pad, dog park, disc golf, and a surprisingly fun mountain bike loop, Crooked Creek Park makes burning energy easy and close to home. Pack a snack, claim a shady table, and let the playground take over while you cruise the loop or toss a few discs.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎶 Music Bingo @ Peddlers Paradise Bartique (Monroe) | Tuesday (3/10) at 7:00 PM – Swap the couch for Music Bingo with Jesse Lee, a Tuesday night hang that delivers open-mic energy without the stage fright. It’s free to play, prizes up for grabs, and blissfully nostalgic for anyone who still remembers liner notes, and their car’s preset buttons.

🎶 MOR+ Music Bingo @ Middle James Brewing Company – Waxhaw | Tuesday (3/10) at 7:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to flex your playlist knowledge without shouting over trivia, Music Bingo at Middle James Brewing in Waxhaw is it. Free to play, packed with great tunes, silly prizes, and plenty of pints, it is recess for grown-ups.

🤝 Open Visitor Networking @ Millbridge Clubhouse (Waxhaw) | Wednesday (3/11) at 8:45 AM – Trade small talk for smart talk at Wednesday mornings with BNI Success Builders at the Millbridge Clubhouse in Waxhaw. Meet real, local pros, swap referrals, and sip coffee while your business actually grows. Visitors are welcome, first visit free, bring cards and your tight intro.

🔥 Field Trip to Hotworx @ HOTWORX Waxhaw | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:45 PM – Field trip time, friends. We’re hauling our dance party to HOTWORX Waxhaw for a steamy sweat, with 6:45 or 7:30 starts and limited spots, so call dibs fast. Class is free, toss $5 to Camp No Limits, and expect music, laughs, and frizzy hair.

🍻 Bourbon & Brews Trivia and Karaoke @ Home Brew Taproom & Tunes (Monroe) | Wednesday (3/11) at 7:30 PM – Shake off the midweek slump at HomeBrew Taproom & Tunes, where Bourbon & Brews-themed trivia warms the room, then karaoke takes the wheel. Bring your obscure whiskey facts, your shower-voice greatest hits, or sip, smirk, and enjoy the hang. Free to play, bragging rights included.

🍷 Wine Tasting @ East Frank Superette & Kitchen (Monroe) | Thursday (3/12) at 6:00 PM – Take a midweek breather and slide into East Frank for Thursday’s free wine tasting with Mel and DJ SweeTee. Sample a few pours, swap flavor notes without the snobbery, grab food specials, and let the beats keep you catching up with friends longer than planned.

🚗 Classic Cruisers Cruise-In @ Poplin Place Shopping Center (Monroe) | Sunday (3/15) at 1:00 PM – Nothing beats a Sunday in Monroe wandering rows of polished classics, swapping stories, and pretending you still remember carburetors. Classic Cruisers host a free, chill cruise-in every third Sunday, open to all, and if you linger after the wrap, no one minds.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Union County report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 82°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 38%

A chance of rain showers between 7am and 5pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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Tomorrow – High: 85°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 6%

Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across North Carolina but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

This 5-bed, 3.5-bath craftsman offers flexible living with a main-level in-law suite and an upstairs loft. The kitchen features a large island, granite countertops, gas cooktop, pantry, open to a fireplace great room. Highlights include a rocking chair porch, covered rear patio, fenced yard, extra-wide staircase, and community pool, playground, and trails, near Union County schools and the Monroe Bypass.

Take a peek inside →