News About Town: For those anxious for the Trade Street construction to be complete…womp womp. NCDOT announced further delays on the project and anticipates it will be complete by late fall or winter. Blythe Development, the contractor, is already past the contract completion date, and is accruing damages assessed at $1,000 per day.

**Correction: In this morning's minute we incorrectly stated "Blythe Construction" is working on the Trade St. The contractor is Blythe Development.

News Around Town: The Matthews Community Farmer’s Market is taking another step toward inclusive community by becoming licensed with Food and Nutrition Services. This license, provided with assistance and equipment from Mecklenburg Public Health Department, paved the way for the market to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Customers swipe their EBT card in the Community House and will receive tokens which may be spent on eligible food items with participating vendors.

The market is exploring ways to stretch SNAP benefits with a dollar matching sponsorship.

One Good Thing: The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs want you to Look Before You Lock. On average 38 children die annually from being left in hot cars. As the weather reaches the mid to upper 90s, a car parked in the sun can easily reach 150 degrees or hotter. The sheriffs have. Couple of tips to remember to look in your backseat (see above), like opening the back door every time you park. If you’re out and about and see a child or pet locked in a hot car, don’t hesitate to call 911.