Baseball (Cinquain)
Baseball
soars towards the clouds
beside it, it carries
all passengers seeking their field
of dreams
By Lorraine Stark
Image via Unsplash @matthew_t_rader
Aroma (Cinquain)
Aroma (Cinquain)
Scents with
hypnotic smells
linger in fine mists and
fill the air with their bouquets that
beckon
By Lorraine Stark
Image via Unsplash @mary_pen
April (Cinquain)
April (Cinquain)
April
Gently persuades
lazy sleeping beauties
prince and princesses in the ground
to wake
By Lorraine Stark
Garden Maiden (Cinquain)
Garden Maiden (Cinquain)
Between
strands of her hair
buds of spring form garlands
made by gypsies that travel with
the wind
By Lorraine Stark
Image via Unsplash @edwardhowellphotography
A Peaceful Moment
While walking on a
country road she
decided to stop and
rest in a cornfield
between the stalks
almost as tall as she
endless beauty
stretched before her
the sky, the sun, geese
flying by the wind
carrying the first hint of
autumn she heard her
heart beating she could
not remember the last
time she did and she
relished in the moment
with joy
By Lorraine Stark
Morning Minute: Wednesday, May 29, 2019
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."
Morning Minute: Wednesday, May 29, 2019
News About Town: On Memorial Day the American Legion unveiled a new sculpture purchased by the Town in Stumptown Park. "Remembrance," by Peter Rubino, was initially commissioned to honor Americas Fallen Heroes in association with the Connecticut Fallen Heroes Foundation. Several versions have been created since then, the newest of which now resides near the flag pole at Stumptown.
News Around Town: This Saturday stop by the Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St., for North Carolina Musicians: Photographs and Conversation, a talk by NC-based photographer Daniel Coston. Daniel has built a career by photographing bands and musicians throughout the state, from Doc Watson to the Avett Brothers. Learn about his process and the stories behind his work. See some of the images he's taken around Matthews, too!
One Good Thing: As the school year winds down, take a quick inventory of your marker stash. If you have any that no longer work, Crayola will recycle them. Many area schools will take your used markers and send them to be recycled, but if you can't get to a drop-off point, let us know. We'll meet you somewhere and take them off your hands then get them to Crayola. Because Crayola is committed to recycling, the markers can be any brand, not just theirs!
Morning Minute: Tuesday, May 28, 2019
News About Town: We’ve been talking a lot about the town budget lately. Tonight is your chance to give the Board of Commissioners input. No need to sign up to speak, the public hearing is built into the Board of Commissioners meeting.
If you're interested in a comparison of numbers from the 2019/20 budget, view that here. To hear the budget discussion between the Board and Town Manager, click here.
Changes include:
Governing Board has a recommended additional $25,000 for legal fees. The total suggested increase is $26,605.
Town Manager suggested increase is $37,963.
Human Resources includes overall suggested increase of $128,582.
IT and Finance Departments both are recommended to receive lower amounts this budget from the last (-$81,387 and -$14,254 respectively).
Safety/Risk Management has a recommended budget increase of $54,802, mostly due to an increase in Worker’s Comp Premiums and a slight increase for full-time wages.
Police Office of the Chief has a recommended budget increase by $91,504 (increasing full-time and overtime wages as well as retirement contributions). Last year the Police Patrol Division had a budget of $3,301,834 ; this year the recommended budget is $3,350,302. Police Criminal Investigations received $1,075,485 last year. The FY 19/20 recommendation is $1,143,888.
The Fire Department has a recommended increase of $329,171, largely due to an increase in salary and benefit line items as they transition to a full-time department from volunteer.
Cultural Arts, Special Events, Rec Centers, Landscape, and Sanitation have recommended higher budgets. Police Admin and Telecommunications, Streets and Sidewalks, and Planning have a lower recommended budget than FY 18/19.
One Fun Thing: Reader Sandy Wilkinson has the goods on what’s going on at McDowell Arts Center. From Sandy, “Only one more week to enjoy the art show at the McDowell Art Gallery featuring works done by Matthews Artists Guild and Crown Point Elementary school art students. If you've never been to McDowell, stop by the art show upstairs and the working area downstairs to see work in progress. Many youngsters are signing up for art camp this summer. Veterans are welcome to create art weekly. Those who enjoy knitting and crocheting meet every other Tuesday evening, open to everyone. Many other programs and information are available at the Mathews Community Center. Don’t be shy...give it a try!”
Morning Minute: Friday, December 7, 2018
News About and Around Town: There is a Board of Commissioners meeting this Monday, and it’s overflowing with agenda items. At 5:30, before the actual meeting, Commissioners will meet to discuss zoning for the warehouse property on East John St.
Following the discussion, at 6 PM, is a reception honoring Planning Director Kathi Ingrish, who is retiring this year.
During the regular Council meeting, the floor will be open for public comment on several rezoning applications. Application 2018-691 is for a mixed-use development which will include 121 townhomes on three acres at Idlewild and I-485. One property on West John is an application to rezone a residential lot, R-20, to office, O(CD). A third rezoning item, 2018-693, is simply to update the land use code for several properties in Crestdale to match the current Unified Develpment Ordinance.
The Board may vote on several items on Monday, including rezoning property on the Novant Hospital Campus to allow for office building construction. The Small Area Plan Overlays are back, the Board will once again have the opportunity to approve or deny the plans.
Beyond planning, the agenda contains fairly typical meeting items but there are a few worth noting. When NCDOT begins Independence Blvd improvements it will be up to the town to choose and fund pedestrian/bicycling improvements through the corridor. The Board will discuss this Monday night. They will consider the John Street Working Group's design and decide for or against adoption. Another item up for consideration is the 2019 Legislative Agenda, which lays out the expectations of the Town’s role in governing in tandem with the NC General Assembly.
One Fun Thing: If it’s not snowin’-up-a-storm this Saturday, we’ll be out at The Loyalist (435 North Trade St.) with Good Cup Coffee for our second Hyperlocal Holiday Pop Up of the season! Warm up with a bowl of The Loyalist’s legend(wait for it)ary soup, then stroll the pocket park in the side yard and shop handmade-wares while sipping on the tummy warming goodness of Good Cup cocoa.
The Dreamweavers Guild of Matthews
On the first Tuesday of each month, from 6-9 p.m. at the McDowell Arts Center, you will find one to two dozen people, all members of the Dreamweavers of Matthews Basket Guild, diligently and creatively weaving baskets, containers and other related (and usable) wares.
The beneficiary of their creations is the Matthews Free Medical Clinic.
(In another annual charitable gesture of goodwill, participating members have already created “Baskets of Love,” which will be filled with items of their discretion and given to their “adopted families” for the upcoming holidays.)
For 30 year basket weaver, Nancy Duffie, of Weddington, this is a chance to meet new people, share a love of basket weaving and learn new techniques. “I am a joiner. I love support groups and community building…I look forward to each meeting to visit, catch up on the latest happenings in everyone's life and sometimes I will weave a basket!” she said. Members come from several communities in this region.
According to the group’s Facebook page administrator, Sharon Williams of Matthews, long-time members are “devoted to teaching their crafts to the next generation of weavers to keep the craft alive.” Once a year, the group also hosts a weaving weekend with a nationally recognized teacher. “It’s a great opportunity to learn new techniques without the expense of traveling,” said Williams.
Basket weaving is the process of weaving or sewing pliable materials into two- or three-dimensional objects, such as containers, mats or trays. In the Dreamweavers’ case, the baskets are usually made of reed or cane, but may also be made from paper or found objects such as antlers, twigs, pine needles, and even leaves from tropical plants. Members usually purchase their materials through North and South Carolina retailers - to help support local artists.
“I like to help people see that basket weaving is more than they think it is. Some of our pieces are complex works of art. ”
“I like to help people see that basket weaving is more than they think it is,” Williams said. “Some of our pieces are complex works of art. There are even specialty baskets in the Smithsonian!”
While camaraderie, connection and a strong sense that their outlay will benefit others are all important reasons why most members have joined the Guild, there’s also a commonality surrounding the art and creativity of basket weaving that runs paramount to this group. “It amazes me that our little Guild of about 20 people has over 200 followers on Facebook,” said Williams. “I think that means there is a connection to handmade art that people love.”
Dreamweavers Guild of Matthews: First Tuesday of each month, 6-9 PM, McDowell Arts Center, 123 E McDowell St, Matthews, NC.
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