News About Town: Watch out for falling speed limits. Several roads in Matthews will have reduced speeds: Sam Newell, Charles Street, Sardis Road, and Weddington Road. Sam Newell at Crestdale Middle School will become a 25 mph school zone. Trade Street currently picks back up to 35 mph leaving town past the greenway crossing. The 25 mph limit will extend beyond the crossing to allow safer pedestrian access to and from the greenway. East Charles St is currently 35 in a portion of the road but will, instead, be 25 mph along the entire length, even after the name change to Tank Town. NCDOT suggested a change on Sardis Road to 40 mph, five mph less than the current posted limit. Speed limits on portions of Weddington Road will be reduced to 35 mph, making the length of the road 35 through to the county line. The City of Charlotte oversees this portion of the road.

News Around Town: Matthews-based Harris Teeter recently hosted another fundraiser for the United Service Organizations (USO) by asking customers to round-up the total of their purchases. By asking for change, the grocery store chain raised $1.7 million for the USO to further their mission of serving military families.

One Fun Thing: We’ve mentioned opportunities to see the Tank Town: A Good Place to Live exhibit a few times already. If you haven’t gotten to the Matthews Heritage Museum to see it, you’re in luck. It’s on display for an extended period through October 5. Prior to the 1980s, the community of Crestdale was surrounded by Matthews but not incorporated. Before school desegregation, community children attended school in a shotgun school house and the Matthews Colored School. The area is still home to two historically black churches: Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist and United House of Prayer for All People. Learn about these essential institutions as well as the community settled by emancipated slaves after the Civil War. Museum hours are Thursday through Saturday from 10 am- 4:30 pm Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children 10 to 17, and free under 10. (Pro Tip: Saturday, August 3 is free entrance to the museum, but your admission supports the museum’s research and exhibits.)