Morning Minute: Monday, March 21, 2022

News About Town: More than 11,000 Duke Energy customers were without power Friday morning when a mobile transformer at the East John St Duke Energy substation caught fire. Units from Charlotte, Stallings, Wesley Chapel, Waxhaw, and Matthews fire departments as well as Bakers Volunteer Fire Department, Unionville volunteer fire departments assisted in controlling the flames after the fire was initially reported around 7:30am. The Charlotte Fire Department's Hazmat Response Unit, Foam Unit, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management also responded, due to the mineral oil burning within the transformer. The fire was declared under control at approximately 10:30 am. There were no injuries and Duke Energy is investigating the cause of the fire.

Nancy Reid, circa 1920, image courtesy of the Matthews Heritage Museum

News Around Town: The Reid House at 134 W. John Street is an iconically “Matthews" site and is one of the few surviving structures in Matthews from the Victorian era. Matthews Heritage Museum's exhibit: Rediscovering the Reids depicts two Reid families, joined by the marriage of Ellie Reid Bell and Dr. T. N. Reid. With no known relation between the two Reid families, the museum presents new research that explains who they were and how they came to settle in Matthews. The display introduces Ellie's brother, who built the home, explains the role of one Reid in the incorporation of Matthews, and provides insight into the preceding generations of both families who lived in and around the area.  

The exhibit closes June 25, 2022. Open Thursday – Saturday from 10am to 4:30pm. Entry fee: $4 for adults, $2 for children 10 to 17, and Free under 10. The first Saturdays of the month are free.

One Fun Thing: NCWorks and SC Works Career Centers are hosting The Job Fair of the Carolinas, a hybrid job fair, this Thursday, March 24 both online and in-person at the NCWorks Career Center, 8601 McAlpine Park Drive, Suite 110. The centers are working in unison to link the 44,200 unemployed individuals to the 71,498 jobs that are in the Charlotte Metro Area with the goal of meeting job seekers where they are. To attend, register through Eventbrite for the virtual hiring event. Hybrid attendees where attendees will be able to visit booths, provide resumes, and chat with employers online. The in-person portion will be at the NCWorks Career Center, 8601 McAlpine Park Drive, Suite 110, Charlotte on Thursday, March 24, 2022.

Morning Minute: Friday, March 18, 2022

News About Town: Earlier this year, two female suspects were caught on the Matthews Lowe's store video surveillance using a stolen credit card to make fraudulent purchases; those same individuals were suspected of committing other fraudulent transactions elsewhere totaling over $37,000. Matthews Police released pictures (view them here) of the suspects with a call for help identifying them. During their investigation, the detectives identified the initial suspects plus two others who were likely involved. With the evidence the police gathered, a total of 22 arrest warrants were issued for four individuals. The four suspects haven’t been found. If you have any idea of their whereabouts, please call the Matthews Police Department at 704-847-5555.

Thank you, Debbie Leblanc Foster, for sharing your photo of a Carolina wren!

News Around Town: After 30 years in the business, Antique Alley (1325 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd) owner Bonnie Henley will retire at the end of this month. Started in 1991, James and Bonnie Henley opened the 5,000 square foot antique store and ran it together until James’ death in 2016. Bonnie continued to run the shop in the years since. Loyalist fans may recognize the new owner Katie Hardister, who will take over the helm April 1. Stop by the Alley, sit on The Bench, and tell Bonnie one last lie before she starts her retirement adventures.

One Fun Thing: The annual Annual Earth Day/Kids in Nature Day event returns to Squirrel Lake Park, 1631 Pleasant Plains Rd, on Saturday, April 23rd. Habitat and Wildlife Keepers (HAWK) need your help to set up and clean up the event as well as tend some tables. Sign up here; shifts are between 8am and 2pm. For more information email HAWKNCWF@gmail.com.

Morning Minute: Thursday, March 17, 2022

News About Town: Toward the end of 2021, Town Manager Hazen Blodgett announced his retirement. Having served the Town of Matthews for 18 years, Blodgett provided six months to complete the hiring process. The Board of Commissioners worked with Developmental Associates to conduct a nationwide search, resulting in a decision to promote Assistant Town Manager Becky Hawke to the seat.

Hawke earned a B.A. in Communication Studies (Hollins University), an M.S. in Corporate and Professional Communication (Radford University), and a Masters Certificate in Human Resources Management (Cornell University). She is currently completing a Master of Public Administration degree through the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. 

Mayor John Higdon expressed confidence in Hawke’s ability, “Becky has demonstrated her ability to lead and inspire staff, solve problems creatively, and improve organizational effectiveness. We are very fortunate to have someone with her talent and skill set leading our organization.”

Blodgett will retire on March 31, 2022; Hawke will begin her new role as Town Manager on April 1, 2022.

Let us show off your photos of Matthews--send in your photo!

News Around Town:  Art students from Butler High School have their work on display in the upstairs gallery of McDowell Arts Center, 123 E McDowell St. Matthews Artist Guild partnered with the local high school to provide space and support for the show. The galleries are usually open during the day but call in advance of visiting to make sure they’re open (704-321-7275). The show ends on March 31, 2022. 

One Good Thing: The Matthews Free Medical Clinic is busy planning its Annual Golf Tournament for April 25, 2022, at Raintree Country Club. In order to swing the event, sponsorships are needed and are available in a range of costs from $200 up to $10,000. Contact Amy Carr at 704-841-8882, with questions or for full details regarding sponsorship packages. 

Morning Minute: Tuesday, March 15, 2022

News About Town: The Matthews Police Department now has an Assistant Chief of Police. Roy Sisk, a member of the department since 2003, was recently promoted to the rank of Major/Assistant Chief. 

Throughout his career, Major Sisk has served in a variety of capacities from Patrol Officer to team leader within the department’s Special Response Team (SRT); he has served as the commander of every division of the Matthews Police Department as well as Interim Chief. Major Sisk is certified as an NC Law Enforcement General Instructor, has a bachelor's degree from Wingate University, and a Master’s in Executive Leadership from Liberty University. He is a graduate of the 26th class of the North Carolina Justice Academy’s Management Development Program and a graduate of the 275th class of the FBI National Academy.  

Let us show off your photos of Matthews--send in your photo!

News Around Town:  The Painted Tree is now open in what was formerly Stein Mart (1813 Matthews Township Parkway). Self-described as “an Etsy marketplace and Pinterest catalog come to life,” The Painted Tree was started in Arkansas and now has more than a dozen locations throughout the country. The store is filled with individual stalls of vendors, many offering handmade, one-of-a-kind items, and is open daily from 10am to 8pm.  

One Fun Thing: The Matthews Hometown Hero Banner Program has opened applications for its second year of the display. Honor a loved one who served and has connections to Matthews by nominating them for the program. Banners will be displayed in downtown Matthews during Veterans Day and Memorial Day every year. Applications are due April 4, 2022, to be displayed during Memorial Day. Click here for the application.

Morning Minute: Monday, March 14, 2022

News About Town: The March 14 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The meeting is in-person, and viewing is available via Zoom (link here, the meeting starts at 7 pm). A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. To listen live, call toll-free 888-788-0099 and enter meeting ID 873 3815 3311. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website. 

Interesting items during the regular meeting include:

• Several public hearings for rezoning items as well as two action items (approve or deny) for rezoning applicants;

• Consideration of a recruitment and hiring bonus for the public works, police, and fire departments;

• Consideration of a landscaping plan along Trade St beside the form Exxon station lot;

• Consideration of a contract for the next town manager.

Peaches are in bloom—spring is on the way.

News Around Town:  Friday, March 11, Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners Chairman George Dunlap presented the State of the County Address. Dunlap’s 30-minute speech touched on big issues from 2021, including COVID, affordable housing, the county’s Pre K program, and economic development. View the speech in full online.

One Fun Thing: It’s Pi Day! Multiply your Pi appreciation (despite the additional “e”) and enjoy a flaky-crusted baked good while admiring the mathematically essential constant value sometime today. While celebrating, singing a round of Happy Birthday to Albert Einstein is also appropriate on March 14.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, February 9, 2022

News About Town: Early last year the Board of Commissioners approved a staff request to apply for a grant that would cover the cost of an automatic gate at Squirrel Lake Park, eliminating the need for police to unlock and lock the gate daily. The automatic gate was installed in the latter half of 2021 but has been without a power source. This Thursday, February 10, Squirrel Lake Park will close temporarily while Duke Energy installs the power line; the greenway will remain open to the public during the installation.

Black History in Matthews: Dr. Selma Burke, a Mooresville native, found her love of art by modeling NC clay into figures. Even after moving out of state, Dr. Burke remained active in the arts in NC throughout her career. Her work is held in the collections of the Smithsonian, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. According to one account, “she credits the ‘good Matthews mud’ as the beginning of her artistic endeavors.” Selma Burke Ln was added to the town street system in 1992; as a thank you, Dr. Burke gave the Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity Family, a bronze sculpture that resides in Town Hall.  

One Fun Thing: February 1st was National Unclaimed Property Day, an initiative to reunite Americans with their missing dollars from overpayments and uncashed checks. One in ten Americans has unclaimed cash sitting and waiting to be found by its rightful owner. Find out more here.

Morning Minute: Monday, February 7, 2022

News About Town: The Fire Department has been testing and flushing fire hydrants throughout the town and will continue to do so into the spring. Flushing hydrants verifies proper operation and adequate flow should they need to be used for firefighting. Flushing also removes sediment that naturally accumulates in water pipes. Such tremendous water flow may cause the sedimentation to be stirred up, possibly causing slight water discoloration in homes immediately after the hydrant flushing. This discoloration is cleared by opening several faucets and running the water until it runs clear. If the household water pressure is low, check the faucet and washer screens for trapped debris.

Thanks to Barbara Myers for the beautiful snowscape!

News Around Town: The Matthews Heritage Museum’s current exhibit, It’s About Time: An exhibit of Clocks and Watches, has been extended to February 19, 2022. Travel through time at the museum and learn about the history of keeping time while viewing a variety of watches and clocks, no DeLorean necessary. Don’t miss the Goofy watch and the Seth Thomas clocks. The Museum is located at 232 N. Trade Street, Matthews. Hours of operation are Thursday to Saturday from 10 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is charged, except for the first Saturday of every month.

One Good Thing: The American Red Cross recently announced a blood supply shortage. Help alleviate the demand on supply by donating to the Red Cross at Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station St, on Thursday, February 17. Sign up here and get a $10 credit to Amazon from the Red Cross as a thank you for your donation.

Morning Minute: Friday, February 4, 2022

News About Town: Several advisory board meetings are coming up. The Committee on Education will meet on Tuesday, February 8, at 6:45pm via Zoom. At 7pm on the 8th, the Environmental Advisory Committee will also hold a remote meeting. The Parks, Rec, and Cultural Advisory Committee will meet on the 9th at 6:30pm. The Transportation Advisory Committee meets at 7 pm on Wednesday, February 17, via Zoom. The Appearance and Tree Committee will meet on Monday, the 21st, at 7 pm. Tuesday, February 22, both the Planning Board, and the Cultural Diversity Committee have 7pm meetings scheduled. View the full town calendar here.

Let us show off your photos of Matthews! Send in your submissions and we’ll feature your talent!

Black History in Matthews: Twenty-year-old Matthews resident Harvey Boyd worked for the Art Department of the Charlotte Observer in the 1960s when the Chamber of Commerce announced a contest to design a seal representing Mecklenburg. Boyd designed the seal in 1963 by combining elements of urban growth, farmland, the Mecklenburg Declaration, and a hornet’s nest in reference to community rebellion during the Revolutionary War. To explain the symbolism and design process, Boyd has published a book, which you can purchase here.

One Fun Thing: Support the Matthews Farmer’s Market by freshening up your wardrobe with a 30th-anniversary tee! Available at the Market, the shirts were designed and printed locally, with proceeds benefitting the market.

Morning Minute: Thursday, February 3, 2022

News About Town: Construction has started on the first section of Irvins Creek Greenway in north Matthews. At approximately one and a half miles long, the greenway trail will connect Idlewild Road Park and Crown Point Elementary School, where it will eventually connect to the Sam Newell Multi-Use Path. When fully built, Irvins Creek Greenway will extend from Lawyers Road in Mint Hill to McAlpine Creek Greenway in Charlotte. This project is a partnership between Mecklenburg County and the Town of Matthews.

Thanks to Barbara Myers for the beautiful snowscape!

News Around Town:  eSports (aka electronic sports) is a competitive, video game-based sport that Matthews-native Casey Kirwan knows well. Earlier this week Kirwan eRaced to victory in a virtual Chevy emblazoned with the number 95 (complete with splashes of red—a big ol’ nod to Lightning McQueen). The race, Clash at the Coliseum, was the unofficial season opener at the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. Beyond bragging rights, Kirwan received four tickets to the real-life Clash and a $250 prize. 

One Fun Thing:  Family Fun Night at Crews Recreation Center returns this Friday, February 4, at 6pm. Join “Magic Barry” (no relation to the decidedly not family-friendly Mike) for a #FunfortheWholeFamily magic show and balloon-twisting workshop. Light refreshments will be provided. The number of participants is limited and advanced registration is required. COVID-19 safety precautions are in place (i.e. face coverings/masks).  

Morning Minute: Tuesday, February 1, 2022

News About Town: In 2021, two developers expressed interested in purchasing the last empty lot of the Matthews Station development (122 Matthews Station St) near town hall. The site appraised for $250,000 and both developers created a proposal for the property.

On January 24, the Board received a final presentation from Developer A (Brahm Investments, LLC). Developer B (Adam Shapiro and Frank Scibelli) withdrew interest. After the presentation, the board authorized staff to begin working on the development standards and conditions. As part of Matthews Station, the property has to meet certain requirements which were created during the original development. Staff will work with both the developer and the Town Attorney to create a development agreement.

In March or April (date TBD), the town will hold a Public Hearing to announce the sale of the property. Following the hearing, the council then votes on approval of the development agreement including elevations, site plan and conditions.

(Documents including the appraisal can be found in this packet, pages 166 through 242.)

Proposed Market Hall for Matthews Station Street in downtown Matthews.

News About Town continued: Brahm Investments presented a Market Hall mixed-use concept, featuring micro-retail with a green co-working rooftop and public use and events. The developer described the possible uses to include start-ups, incubators, culinary talents, artists, and antique shops with Instagrammable murals and design.

One Fun Thing: Reaching retirement age has its perks (sayonara 9-to-five) and senior shopping days is definitely one of them. Every Tuesday, Backporch Treasures at the HELP Center, 119 N. Ames St, shows some senior love by offering 10% off purchases by the more mature shopping set. Over 60? Bag it up!

Morning Minute: Monday, January 31, 2022

News About Town: Tonight, January 31, the board will participate in the fifth (and final) Board Orientation meeting. Staff will present the following information:

• Budget forecasting Budget Forecasting Model Departmental Needs

• Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) CIP

• American Rescue Plan Act-Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA-CLFRF)

• Bond referendums Bond Primer Bond Options

The meeting will be held remotely. Watch via Zoom (meeting ID 883 8312 4172) or watch on YouTube. Call-in instructions are posted online with the agenda.  

Thanks to Unsplashed user @kellysikkema for the cheerful message!

News Around Town:  At-home rapid COVID tests are now available for free. Limited to one set of four per household, sign up online here. If you’re looking for a free drive-thru test, COVID there are a couple options:

• On Call Mobile Medical and Wellness at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 381 Crestdale Rd, 10am - 2pm on Tuesday, Feb 1 and Monday, Feb 7.

• Starmed at the old Cinemark 10 theater, 9508 Northeast Ct, Monday through Friday, 9am to 3pm.

United Providers of Health also has a walk-up tent in the parking lot of Matthews United Methodist Church, 801 South Trade St, on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from noon to 5pm.
In an age where information seems readily available, the Public Health Hotline: 980-314-9400 is a reliable resource. Choose option 3 (English) or opción 8 (Español). The hotline operates Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm and is for general questions regarding COVID-19 and vaccines. As always, if you have a medical emergency, call 911.

One Fun Thing:  Brakeman’s (225 N Trade St.) is once again hosting their popular Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Date Night. This year the café is adding a Mother/Son event, too. Enjoy a fun activity with your little one while you snack on cookies and cocoa. Tickets are available at the shop, but space is limited so get yours ASAP.

Morning Minute: Monday, January 10, 2022

News About Town: The January 10 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. To watch live, the meeting is available via Zoom (link here, the early meeting begins at 5:30 and the regular meeting starts at 7 pm). A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter meeting ID 865 4038 3569. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

The early meeting is the second informative session for the new Board of Commissioners. Jay Camp, Town of Matthews Planning Director, will provide an overview of the Planning Department and the processes involved in development in Matthews.

Interesting items during the regular meeting include:

• Changes to the Unified Development Ordinance related to NC Senate Bill 300, a bill that prohibits municipalities from using criminal penalties of land use regulations.

• Discussion of the Micromobility Ordinance, which regulates the use of shared mobility (think electric scooters) within the Town.

• An early and significant discussion of the Fire Station 3 design process.

Thanks to Unsplashed user @kellysikkema for the cheerful message!

News Around Town: The NC Wildlife Resources Commission has sent out an alert to all Mecklenburg County residents to be on the lookout for 9-banded armadillos.

Armadillos have long been native to Central and South America, but as temperatures continue to warm, the armored mammals have wandered this way.

Report observations to armadillo@ncwildlife.org and include: 

• a photo of the armadillo;

• the date, and time it was observed;

• and the location where it was observed (GPS coordinates are best, but a detailed location description is acceptable).

One Good Thing: On January 16, the local faith community will lead the 6th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. The celebration will begin at 2:30pm at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 381 Crestdale Rd., for an educational presentation on civil rights and a peaceful march to Matthews Town Hall on the Crestdale Heritage Trail.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, January 4, 2022

News About Town: Time to check back in with Matthews Police for “Operation Santa Knows” week 4. In partnership with local stores, the Police are working closely with retail loss prevention to increase reporting, investigating, and solving retail theft cases. Perpetrators will be identified, charged, and prosecuted as a result. For this week, the operation netted four arrests, four misdemeanors, and three trespasses. Also, 14 retail products were reclaimed. In total, the operation netted 23 arrests, 17 felonies, 38 misdemeanors, 24 trespasses, seven outstanding warrants served, 186 retail products were reclaimed, and $4,120.52 in product loss was prevented since the beginning of the operation.

Thanks to Unsplashed user @kellysikkema for the cheerful message!

News Around Town: The Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group is planning its fourth Citizens’ Water Academy starting this week. The virtual event is a hefty 16 sessions of 90 minutes each; classes include a history of the Catawba, lecturers from Duke Energy and local utilities, impacts of land use on water quality, and plants, animals, and their interactions with the Catawba River. Eager to learn? Register online. 

One Fun Thing: Speaking of animals along the Catawba, there are more than 45 whitetail deer per mile in Mecklenburg County. With so many, it's important to let the deer forage for their food. Feeding deer corn can do more harm than good. According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, "For better or for worse, products like 'deer corn' are much like junk food for deer, and can cause painful ailments such as acidosis, enterotoxaemia, aflatoxin poisoning, and deformities like foundering hooves, which makes it difficult for deer to walk normally." Having a junk food buffet can also attract larger groups of deer to one area, making it easier to spread disease.

Morning Minute: Thursday, December 9, 2021

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners meeting agenda for Monday, December 13, is available online. The meeting is remote via Zoom (link here); listen by calling toll-free 888-788-0099 and entering the meeting ID 872 6770 2689. A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

The meeting will be a hybrid, online for the first portion and in-person for the second. The first portion of the meeting will be the last meeting for the current board and will include comments and reflections from Commissioners Dave Bland and Jeff Miller. The second portion will be the first meeting for the new board. 

Want to share one of your photos? Send it to us!

News Around Town: The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines programs measure access and treatment of cardiovascular events. Novant Health Matthews Medical Center participated in both programs, resulting in several American Heart Association Achievement Awards. These awards recognize the hospital’s commitment to implementing quality improvement measures that ultimately lead to more lives saved, shorter recovery times, and fewer returns to the hospital. The awards include: 

• Gold Plus – Stroke and Heart Failure

• Target: Stroke Elite Honor Roll

• Target: Type II Diabetes Honor Roll – Heart Failure

• Target: Heart Failure Honor Roll

One Fun Thing: The new Welcome to Matthews guide is out! Chock full of information about Matthews, from houses of worship to regular town events, even the ads are from local businesses ready to serve with the small-town charm Matthews is known for. Check it out online and pick up a free printed version from the Matthews Chamber, 210 Matthews Station St.

Morning Minute: Monday, December 6, 2021

News About Town: Hundreds of Matthews residents gathered in front of Town Hall Saturday night for the annual tree lighting. Festivities included Mayor John Higdon emceeing the entertainment, featuring carols from the Crestdale Sixth Grade Chorus and dancers with Charlotte Dance Alliance, a dance school in Windsor Square. Brakeman’s provided hot chocolate, while Novant and other area businesses filled goodie bags with candy and swag. Santa and Mrs. Claus perched on polar bear laps under a festive gazebo while posing for photos with a line that tapered down only after the crowd counted down to the tree lighting.

Want to share one of your photos? Send it to us!

News Around Town: Matthews resident and co-founder, Ann Margret Gidley, describes Little Citizens Club as a nonprofit whose goal is to “cultivate compassionate children by providing child-friendly service opportunities as part of a social club.” The group is hosting a sock drive to serve Crisis Assistance Ministry. Donate new or clean and gently used socks at one of several area drop-off sites by December 10. If you’d like to help by collecting socks and can place a bin on your porch for an additional drop location, please email LittleCitizensClub@gmail.com.

One Fun Thing: After a 20-month pause, Matthews Concert Band is back and ready to jingle your socks off! The volunteer community band is taking the stage at Matthews Presbyterian Church, 207 West John St., this Friday at 7:30pm. The event is free and will be worth every dollar you don’t spend (and then some)!