Morning Minute: Monday, July 8 2019

News About Town: Filing began on Friday for the 2019 municipal elections. It was a busy day at the Board of Elections office with candidates from all over Mecklenburg county getting a jump start on election season, including 10 candidates from Matthews. Officially in the race for Matthews Mayor are incumbent Paul Bailey and current Mayor Pro Tem John Higdon. Thus far 8 people have filed for Board of Commissioners (Town Council), they are Dave Bland, Allen Crosby, Barbara Dement, Renee Garner, Jeff Miller, Kress Query, Mark Tofano, and John Urban.

*Editor’s Note: You may notice a certain Beacon co-founder and editor in chief on the list of commissioner candidates. We are immensely proud of Renee for throwing her hat in the ring in the hope of serving the community in yet another capacity. Our personal biases acknowledged we are committed as a news source to covering the election in as factual and unbiased a manner as possible. Our goal is as it has always been: to inform and educate the people of Matthews.

News Around Town: The Matthews Fire & EMS Department had a busy Fourth of July. During the storm early on the fourth, strong winds brought down trees. Several cars were totaled in the Paces Pointe apartment parking lot. Later that night, police noticed smoke coming from a law office on Senna Drive and called the fire department. Matthews, Idlewild, and Mint Hill departments worked together to put out the fire.

One Fun Thing: Ready for a day of art? This Sunday (July 14, 2-4 pm) head over to McDowell Arts Center to learn how to use alcohol inks, a popular new material that looks like really vibrant watercolors. The registration fee ($20 residents. $25 non residents) covers all supplies. After painting, head upstairs in the gallery, for the reception and viewing of the Waxhaw Arts Council exhibit.

Morning Minute: Monday, June 3, 2019

News About Town: Matthews Police are looking for two men who recently stole nearly $900 in merchandise from Lowe's at Sycamore Commons. Both men are described as black males, approximately 6’00” tall, with medium to large builds. Security camera photos are available on the town website. The theft occurred on the heels of a recent cooperative sting between Matthews PD and Lowe's Security, where 14 people were charged and 21 cases were closed by netting members of an organized retail theft ring.  

The nearly finished Town 324 apartments.

News Around Town:  Town 324, developed by BrookChase Properties, is nearing completion, expanding the selection of apartments in downtown Matthews (the other downtown rental multifamily units are BrookChase's Matthews Lofts). Town 324 is located by Town Hall and consists of 24 " boutique, small scale apartment" units. Rezoning was approved in 2014 by current Commissioner John Urban. (Urban was not commissioner at the time of rezoning.)

One Fun Thing:  Spend summer break with the Matthews Library. Sign your family up online for the Summer Break read-along, log reading and activities throughout the summer, then earn badges and prizes (including a ticket to Carowinds!).

Morning Minute: Friday, May 31, 2019

News About Town: Have a burning question for Mayor Bailey? Maybe curious about the details of a development in town? Tomorrow (Saturday, June 1) is your chance to Meet the Mayor at Miki’s Restaurant (1819 Matthews Township Pkwy) from 8 to 9 am.

Bonus Bite: The Council hasn’t solidified the FY 19/20 budget yet. They’ll meet again with the Town Manager and staff this Monday (June 3) for the special budget meeting. Want to sit in? It’s an open meeting and will be at Town Hall from 6:00  to 8:00 pm.

News Around Town: This Saturday at 10:00 am, the Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity will dedicate their latest Sandy Marano Memorial Home build (3519 Dion Dr, Matthews, NC 28105). Friends, families, and volunteers are invited to join the celebration as the family is welcomed to their new home.   

One Fun Thing:  This June the McDowell Arts Center will be transformed into a sensory arts show. Ten regional artists will have work on display and you can expect more than just looking, all of the art was made to be touched. Goodyear artist Andrea Vail will have her collaborative, community-building art piece ready. Stop by, materials will be in the gallery for you to add to the piece. McDowell Arts Center (located by the Community Center) is open Monday through Saturday and the show will run through July 5. A reception will be held June 9, and we’ll have more details closer to that date.

Morning Minute: Friday, May 3, 2019

News About Town: The Town of Matthews offers many opportunities for residents to get involved on a committee level. For those interested in the arts (and sciences), Arts and Science Council has a spot open for a Matthews voice starting Fiscal Year 2020. The first meeting will be held October 2019.  The deadline to apply is May 31; appointments will be announced mid-August.

News Around Town: The Loyalist Market recently received a 3 Crown rating (the highest honor) as a Charlotte Green Crown award winner from Charlotte’s Office of Sustainability. The Office of Sustainability created the awards to encourage implementation and reduction of the use of natural resources in the restaurant industry. The Loyalist’s initiatives, such as replacing plastic straws with hollow pasta noodles, compostable carry out containers, and a bike rack at the door, have made The Loyalist a leader in sustainability in Matthews.

One Fun Thing: First through fifth grade Crown Point Elementary artists will have their works on display at McDowell Art Gallery (123 East McDowell St., Matthews) from  May 4 to May 31. Sandy Wilkinson, Show Chairperson, and Paige Brown, Crown Point Art Teacher, have curated over 100 projects over the course of the school year to display in the show.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, January 16, 2019

News About Town: ​If you’re curious about Town Council meetings but have to get dinner on the table and kids in bed, it’s now possible to have your municipal cake and eat it too. The Town has started posting audio to the website. It will be posted beside the agenda as soon as it’s available, which will usually be a day or two after the meeting. Click audio, close your eyes and feel whisked away to the Council dais. Still want the visuals? Keep an eye on the Town’s YouTube Channel. There will be more videos in the near future.

Illustration by Renee Garner

News Around Town:  This Sunday night (well, technically Monday morning) if you stay up late you might see the Super Blood Wolf Moon. The “super” part means the moon will be in relatively close proximity to the earth. A “wolf moon” is the first full moon of the year, and the blood part comes from the color of sun’s rays as they filter through the earth’s atmosphere. For 62 minutes the moon will be in full eclipse and a red hue will bathe the moon, creating both a beautiful sight and perhaps inspiration for an epic metal band name.

One Fun Thing:  This Valentine’s Day homeschoolers are invited to the McDowell Arts Center for the Arts Delivered Valentine’s Open House from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the downstairs arts studio. You and your kids will have a chance to paint a Valentines ornament ($1 material fee), watch a pottery wheel demo, buy a piece of pottery for sale, and get info on their 2nd annual Homeschool Art Exhibition. For more info contact artsdelivered@gmail.com, 704 618 2222.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, January 15, 2019

News About Town: ​This Saturday, January 19, is Coffee With a Commissioner at the Levine Senior Center, 1050 Devore Ln., from 9 to 10 a.m. Stop by, ask some questions, chat about Matthews, and learn more about the goings on in our town.

News Around Town:  Several Matthews businesses are pitching in to provide relief from the financial burden of the government shutdown. Your Mom‘s Donuts (11025 Monroe Rd., Ste F) is offering a free donut each morning to those who have a federal ID. M & M Flooring (136 B Charles St.) has partnered with Sky Asian Bistro (9925 Leitner Dr., Pineville) to offer a free meal to affected government workers and their families on January 20 and 27, from 11a.m. to 5 p.m.

One Fun Thing: If you haven’t been to McDowell Arts Center (123 McDowell St.) lately, check out the new exhibit by the Waxhaw Arts Council. The show contains over 45 works, including some by internationally acclaimed sculptor Peter Rubino.

Morning Minute: November 16, 2018

News About (and Around) Town:  The Matthews area House of Representatives (District 103) race has been a real nail biter. At the close of election day current Representative Bill Brawley led challenger Rachel Hunt by 52 votes out of 38,000 cast.

However, after the polls closed there were absentee and provisional ballots to count.  Absentee ballots must have been postmarked by November 6 and received by 5 PM on November 9. Following the absentee ballot count last Friday, Ms. Hunt edged ahead by 64 votes with a tally of 19,102 (Hunt) to 19,038 (Brawley).  

A provisional ballot is cast when there is a question regarding a person's eligibility to vote (see more here: https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voting-Options/Provisional-Voting), or if they've arrived at the wrong precinct. Following election day each provisional ballot is researched to determine if the voting issue can be resolved. The research is presented to the Board of Elections and they make the final determination on whether the ballot is eligible and will count. Provisional ballots were verified and tallied yesterday, which resulted in a 68 vote lead by Ms. Hunt over Mr. Brawley. The deadline to certify the election is today at 11 AM.

Since the final tally has less than 1% separating the candidates, Mr. Brawley has requested a recount, which will most likely happen early next week.

One Fun Thing: This Saturday Matthews United Methodist (801 South Trade Street) will have over 80 artists and crafts people selling their handmade goods just in time for the holiday gift-giving season. Ready-to-serve bake sale items will be the perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table. Lunch will also be available for sale with those proceeds benefiting Christ Our Shepherd Kids. Saturday, November 17, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Morning Minute: November 2, 2018

News About Town: Put it on your calendar, the next John Street Working Group meeting is Monday, November 5, at 6 PM at Town Hall. This is a chance for the public to learn about the consensus design created by the group, how it will function, as well as how the committee will proceed. There will be several ways to interact and give your opinion including public comment and online poll.  If you can’t make it in person, the meeting will be live-streamed on the Town’s Facebook page.

Photo by Abstract Dissent 

News Around Town: As the Matthews community mourns and processes the Butler High School shooting, one Charlotte artist offered a message of unity. Abstract Dissent painted a mural on the interior wall of Butler High School in response to the deadly shooting at the school on Monday. On his Facebook page Abstract Dissent noted, “I hope this piece can bring the school kids together tmrw on their first day back.”

One Fun Thing: Sycamore Commons is throwing a family-fun-filled Fall Fest tomorrow, November 3 from 11 AM til 2 PM. They’ll have apple cider, free pumpkins, face painting, and more. There’s enough planned to keep everyone happy! In case of rain, the festival will be moved to Sunday, November 4, 2018.