News About Town: On Tuesday evening the town council discussed with Town Attorney Charles Buckley (yep, that street is named after him) prayer in council meetings. The discussion was largely based on the Fourth Circuit court decision that prayer by the Rowan County council violated the Constitution. Similarities between Matthews and Rowan councils include council members leading prayer, prayers that proselytize, and the invitation by council members to attendees to pray. To comply, the attorney recommended the board invite clergy or residents to pray or to do as the Town of Waxhaw does and to offer a moment of silence. The Board of Commissioners will give thought to the topic moving forward.
If you haven’t made it to a Mobility meeting, there are still a few chances!
News Around Town: Two buildings that have been vacant for a while on Independence have a new lease on life. The former Hooters building (9201 E Independence Blvd) will soon be City Arcade, a sweepstakes center. A space in Windsor Square (right at the corner of Sam Newell and Independence) has a sign in the window that says a homebrew supply store is coming soon. This will be a big relief for those who drive to 201 Central in Wesley Chapel or Alternative Beverage in Belmont to get their brew on.
One Good Thing: A few mountain towns in NC are celebrating Trail Days tomorrow through Sunday (May 31 through June 2). Why not join from a distance and visit the trails around Matthews? PurSey Park has an excellent loop for hiking and biking, portions of the Carolina Thread Trail run through town and include our last but not least--the beloved 4-mile Creek Greenway. In the words of Dr. Scott, the great PBS paleontologist, "Get outside, get into nature, and make your own discoveries."