News About Town: Give Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department your input as they develop a new master plan. According to Park and Rec, this series of public discussions will help establish their goals, policies, standards, recommendations, and strategies for the next decade. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 pm this Wednesday at the Sportsplex ( 2425 Sports Pkwy, Matthews).

News Around Town: NC State alumni can relive their good ol' days on campus with Howling Cow ice cream. Now available in Matthews, Howling Cow is a frozen dairy delight once sequestered to the state fair and NCSU campus. Traditionally produced with milk from NC State dairy cows, Howling Cow has licensed through Matthews-based Harris Teeter for broader distributions. Harris Teeter's Howling Cow ice cream is to be made at Hunter Farms in High Point. Are you looking for some Howling Cow of your own? Harris Teeter at Plantation Market and Matthews Festival will both carry it, and proceeds will fund NCSU student scholarships and dairy/agriculture initiatives.

One Good Thing: It's time once again for the Novant Health Matthews Medical Center Festival of Trees Lighting. A holiday mainstay, the Novant Matthews lobby (1500 Matthews Township Pkwy) will be sparkling with Christmas trees decorated by area nonprofits and open for the public to view. Stroll through the lobby, listen to live music, sip some cocoa, and enjoy the decor this Thursday, Nov 21, from 5 to 7:30 pm.