News About Town: The Matthews Community Center and McDowell Arts Center are re-opening for programs, rentals, and activities today (March 1). Although the County Health Directive has expired, previous guidelines are still in place: masks and social distancing are required in both facilities. Arrive slightly early to complete a health screening and temperature scan. Class registration is required (no drop ins) to maintain small class sizes. If you need any assistance registering for a program, please give the Community Center staff a call at 704-321-7275.

News Around Town: Navigating road projects in the region can be complicated, but many roads lead back to the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization (CRTPO)--at least in terms of planning and funding. The CRTPO compiles regional projects submitted by local municipalities, scores them according to data, gathers public input, and determines if they fit the goals of the Organization. If the project meets the criteria, the project may make it into the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP). A large part of the MTP is the project list, which identifies priority projects of all transportation modes for the next twenty or so years.  Each of the jurisdictions within CRTPO’s planning area had an opportunity earlier this year to submit projects for consideration. These projects will soon be evaluated and opened to the public for prioritization input. This is the perfect opportunity to dive right into everything that is local transportation.

One Good Thing: If you’re still not ready for in-person activities, the county website is chock full of resources to keep you entertained. Orchid killer? They’ve got tips to green up your thumb. Kids need to calm down? There’s an asana for that. Need to practice your Cupid Shuffle? Line it up! See what they’ve got here.