Fall Plant Sales for Native and Unusual Plants

Happy Fall! There are several ways to tell that we're into the fall season - a date on the calendar, the weather, and the fall plant sales. Ok, I admit we're only into fall by two out of three there, 'cause the weather sure isn't showing it.

We can't control the weather, but we can sure add to our yards by hitting up some of the sales. Here's a list of them.

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

Wing Haven Fall Plant Sale

• Members only 10/2 from 9-5

• !0/3 from 9-5

• Here's a link to the list of plants that will be available: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/575b2f93859fd0ac8b82b10e/t/5d8d1ed6824b1c61e60ceae2/1569529558723/2019+FALL+plant+list.pdf

• Park only in clearly marked areas.

UNCC Fall Plant Sale

• Members-only 10/3. from 12-3. Definitely worth joining to get first dibs!

• Sale - 10/4, 10/5 - 9-3

• CAB building, UNC Charlotte. 220 CAB Lane, Charlotte, NC 28262

• Plants are clearly marked: native plants, rare or choice plants, growing conditions.

• Lots of people available to answer questions.

• Parking on-site

• All proceeds go towards the gardens and greenhouse

CPCC - Cato Campus Annual Fall Plant Sale

• Sale - 10/4 - 9-6; 10/5 - 9-noon

• Follow this link for more information and a 10% off coupon: https://www.cpcc.edu/news/cato-campus-host-annual-fall-plant-sale-oct-4-5?fbclid=IwAR3pbHhkzypQxmo33eJTLGqvWhuGXIsXMi4V1Lgz1eDnZaPYA0oTMu9dics

• Parking on-site.

Grab lots of native plants that benefit our pollinators and wildlife!

Get your fall on, y'all!

HAWK's Earth Day with Kids in Nature Celebration

Habitat and Wildlife Keeper’s 2019 Earth Day with Kids In Nature Day event was this past Saturday at Squirrel Lake Park. If you didn’t make it out, the group hosted about 40 vendors and area nonprofits who engaged area kids about and taught all things nature.

If you couldn’t make it, don’t fret! We’ve took photos to share a few of our favorite booths.

Creating a Wildlife Habitat, Part II: Food for Thought

In the last article we looked at sites for wildlife habitats (homes, businesses, places of worship, and public sites such as parks). We also looked at the requirements: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable gardening practices.

In the next few installments we’ll examine each requirement separately to see how easy they are to provide.

Let’s kick off with food. This can be natural (like acorns, seeds, nuts) or something that you provide (like bird seed, suet or corn).

If you’re feeding birds, natural sources of food include plants that provide berries (like blueberries), seeds (echinacea or Black-eyed Susan), nuts (pecan or hazelnut), or nectar (for hummingbirds). Notice that these can all feed people, too!

To provide food in a fast and efficient manner think about using bird feeders. It’s important to do your research and know what foods your favorite birds prefer, what type of feeder to use, and where to hang it for the best result. Keeping feeders filled and cleaned is important. And make sure to buy quality seed instead of a giant bag of mostly millet, which most of our birds don't eat!

If squirrels eat a lot of your seed, add a baffle to prevent them from shimmying up a pole to help themselves to the bird food.  Remember that squirrels can jump quite a long ways from any direction, so take that into account when hanging feeders.

Winter months and cold weather can be hard on our birds.  I like to provide suet for a high energy food for birds.  It's easy to make your own and a great project for kids.  

Who doesn't love seeing hummingbirds?  Put out feeders in more than one location (out of the line-of-sight) and keep them clean by a weekly scrubbing.  The nectar will ferment quickly in very hot weather, so you'll need to change it regularly.

If you’re trying to attract pollinators, focus on providing a variety of native plants of different colors and shapes.  Use native plants to get the biggest environmental bang for your buck.

So there you have it - a quick and easy way to provide food for critters in your yard.  And the best thing is that you get the joy of seeing nature up close!

---

Creating a Wildlife Habitat: Part I

Every wildlife habitat requires the same things: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices.

A lot of ground has been lost, literally and figuratively, on the environmental front recently. Rather than throwing your hands up in despair how about asking what we as individuals can do. Small acts can make a difference.

We’re going to explore how to create wildlife habitats in several columns. Today we’ll look at the requirements for wildlife habitats and places to create habitats. 

Every wildlife habitat requires the same things: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices. These requirements can be naturally occurring, such as a pond or berry-bearing plant, or you can provide them in the form of a bird bath or feeder. Over the next few columns, we’ll look at how easy it is to provide each of the required elements.

The best, and easiest, place to start is your own home. Size isn’t an obstacle. You can create a habitat at an apartment with a balcony or patio, a farm with acreage, or anything in between.

You can also create a wildlife habitat at a daycare, nursery school, as well as elementary, middle and high schools, and on college campuses. Obtaining permission from the school and/or county authorities is a starting point. Creating a budget is next, along with establishing a committee to create and care for the habitat long-term. Matthews has many examples of wildlife habitats at schools. Ask if your school is a habitat and if they need your help!

Businesses can also be habitats and can get good PR for taking this step. We have veterinarians to investment companies certified! Places of worship are logical places to care for flora and fauna. This is an excellent project for children of all ages. We have several places of worship that are wildlife habitats, and there’s always room for more.

Finally, public areas such as parks make fabulous habitats and provide education for all who use them with the addition of signage. Squirrel Lake Park is a great example, with large educational signs and small signs with QR codes for plant identification. Check out the bird feeder system that was created and is maintained by Habitat and Wildlife Keepers (HAWK), a local chapter of North Carolina Wildlife Federation.

Matthews is the 64th Community Wildlife Habitat certified by National Wildlife Federation. HAWK (Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, a local chapter of NC Wildlife Federation) created Matthews Naturally, a community-wide program which certified the Town as a wildlife habitat, and is responsible for recertifying every year. You can be part of Matthews Naturally by certifying your home, a school, place of worship or business.

Building habitats for wildlife is one small thing that makes a big difference, especially if we work together.

#FiveForFriday: A Morning Minute News Round Up

There was a little excitement at Town Hall yesterday, and for once it didn’t involve a council meeting. Around 1 PM emergency services were called after the alarm system went off. Three Matthews fire trucks answered the call. After an inspection of the premises, it was determined there was a fault in the sprinkler system which caused the alarm to go off.

Ashley HomeStore licensee Broad River Retail announced plans to open a HomeStore Outlet in the former Capel Rug Outlet store (9632 E Independence Blvd.). Just down the road, Discount Tire has requested rezoning at the former Tilted Kilt location (1625 Windsor Square), which has been vacant since 2015. The tire retail chain would like to raze the current building to construct a new store. In 2018 the ABC Board applied to rezone the site but was denied. Since the ABC Board was denied rezoning within the last 12 months, Discount Tire must request special permission from the Planning Board to apply for rezoning.

Mark your calendar for the next HAWK meeting, Tuesday, February 5. Kim O'Shea, beekeeper, archaeologist and master gardener will change the way you see bees. Her own videos and photos provide a unique glimpse into the way bees interact with their surroundings. Kim will explain methods for gardening for and with bees through year-round sustainable practices. 7 p.m. at the Community Center.

Photo by Kim O’Shea

USA Rugby, the national governing body for the sport of rugby in America, selected the Sportsplex at Matthews as the site for their 2019 Spring College National Championship Series. The organization worked with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority/Visit Charlotte to determine the location of their 2018 Fall College National Championships. Visit Charlotte partnered with Sportsplex staff to deliver a professional-level experience for USA Rugby and their participating teams. The Men's D1AA, Women's D1, and Women's D2 finals will be played on the weekend of May 3.

Did you know that Matthews Fire & EMS holds an annual awards banquet? This year's banquet had 140 attendees and honored the following members of the department:

Explorer of the Year – Jacob Rodriguez
Fire Corps Member of the Year – Sabrina Corra
SAFER Award for most hours (Fire) - Jacob Bobeng
SAFER Award for most hours (EMS)- Montana Hudgens
Rookie of the Year – Kyle “Bon Jovi” Beard
Derek E. Layman EMT of the Year – Montana Hudgens
Firefighter of the Year – Reyes Cruz Guzman
Officer of the Year – Lt. Matthew Losh
L.H. Yandel Award – Chief Rob Kinniburgh

To see a recap of the department’s accomplishments in 2018, view this YouTube video.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, January 23, 2019

News About Town: It feels a little early to think about summer, but registration opens Friday, February 1, for Park and Rec Summer Camps. With a full array of camps for kids ages 4-16 and relatively affordable tuition, these camps fill up fast. Themes include arts, science, design, and even magic; there’s something for every interest. See the brochure for more information.

News Around Town: The Stronghaven paper storage warehouse at 433 E John St. has been shuttered. The original brick warehouse was built in 1960 and the metal addition was constructed in the early 80s. The building is a holding space for rolls of blank paper, soon to be sent to the Stronghaven factory on Monroe Road where it is made into boxes for national brands such as Build-a-Bear and Dominos.We have no further details on the closing, aside from the sign on the door from the Fire Marshal posted Tuesday morning.

One Fun Thing: Mark your calendar for the next HAWK meeting, Tuesday, February 5. Kim O'Shea, beekeeper, archaeologist and master gardener will change the way you see bees. Her own videos and photos provide a unique glimpse into the way bees interact with their surroundings. Kim will explain methods for gardening for and with bees through year-round sustainable practices. 7 p.m. at the Community Center.

Morning Minute: November 6, 2018

News About Town: Monday evening the Town of Matthews hosted a public input meeting regarding the town engineering department’s interpretation of the consensus design from the John Street Working Group for public feedback. The meeting was live-streamed over Facebook and can be viewed through the Town’s Facebook page. To participate in the survey, login here and use session ID: Matthews.

Photo by Abstract Dissent

News Around Town: It’s Election Day! If you aren’t one of the 25% of Mecklenburg County voters who took advantage of early voting, head on over to your polling location and cast your ballot today! Check here if you’re not sure where to vote. For non-partisan summaries of all the candidates on your ballot, visit vote411.org and enter your address. Expect some lines, turnout for early voting was more than double the 2014 early voting totals and it’s expected a large number of voters will come out on Tuesday. Weather is also a factor; the forecast calls for rain so make sure you have an umbrella in the event you’ll be standing outside. However you vote, we encourage all of our readers to exercise their right and perform their civic duty.

One Fun Thing: Join HAWK tonight for an engaging evening with Ramona Moore Big Eagle, M.Ed. An Oral Historian and Legend Keeper of the Tuscarora Nation of North Carolina, Ramona recognizes her everyday life as part of a bigger story to be told. The event is sure to be both educational and captivating. Tuesday, November 6, at 7 PM in the Matthews Community Center, 100 E McDowell St.

Martha Krauss Speaks for the Bees

Martha Krauss remains one of the most enthusiastic voices and leaders for bee conservancy and preservation in Matthews.  A 45-year-resident, Martha’s work has been pivotal to the establishment of Country Place Park Pollinator Garden and to designating the town a Bee City (USA). Her foray into bees was a natural outgrowth of her upbringing, her passions and her interests in nature.

Tell me a little bit about your life? When did you move here? I grew up on a farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  Even as a child, I loved plants – especially herbs. After marrying Will Krauss, a Naval Officer, we lived in Massachusetts and Maryland.  Upon his discharge we moved to Ohio for his job, and later his career took us to Pennsylvania, then back to Ohio. During some of those years, I taught Elementary Physical Education. In 1973, we moved to Matthews NC.

“With the help of Carol Buie-Jackson we talked to our town manager, Hazen Blodgett, who is also a beekeeper, the process began. Carol and I made a presentation to the Matthews Town Council and in December 8, 2014, they voted unanimously to become a Bee City USA.  We were the fourth town in the nation to become a Bee City USA community. ”

— Martha Krauss

Martha Krauss stands among the pollinator plants at Country Place Pocket Park. Photo by Cyma Shapiro.

What attracted you to being here? Will's job brought us to the south.   Matthews was a very different place then with a population of (approximately) 2,000.  We found a house on five acres, giving us room to build a barn for our two daughters’ horses.  We’ve had goats, chickens, turkeys, dogs and cats at various times. Back then, the road to our house was wooded, had seven houses and a speed limit of 55 m.p.h. Matthews provided a good place to live and raise our family, not to mention that the blue skies and mild winters of North Carolina were a delight!

What were your hopes for being here? To live in a family-friendly town with a sense of community. We have found it to be exactly that.

When did you begin your foray into bees? We became seriously interested about seven years ago and took classes, set up our hive and joined both the Union County and Mecklenburg County Beekeeper Associations.

What did you hope to do with this knowledge? Become successful beekeepers, help the environment, help to educate the public about how important bees are, and to become a part of the beekeeping community.

Why did this become an interest for you? Will and I have always been avid vegetable, flower and shrub gardeners.  About seven years ago, we noticed that there were very few bees.  Since we knew how important it was to have pollinators for our gardens, we decided to look into bee keeping.  One of our friends was already a beekeeper and she helped guide us.  After acquiring the equipment and signing up for a class, she spotted a swarm of bees on the Greenway and they became our first bees!  We now have three hives and a hive of a beekeeper friend.

You are considered one of the preeminent bee enthusiasts in Matthews. How did you come to this role? After taking the Bee Keepers class, I just started talking to everyone about bees and how important they are to our farms, garden and food supply. I really felt like this was something I could help bring an awareness to, to help the bees.

“One third of our foods rely on bees and thousands of other insects to pollinators to fertilize the plants in order for the plant to produce fruits and vegetables that we eat.”

— Martha Krauss

Will and Martha Krauss’ beehives. Photo by Martha Krauss

Do you see any intersection between your passion for this and, perhaps, a philosophical greater life plan? I have always appreciated the beauty of nature and have found peace and solace in tending a garden. The Mennonite simplicity and living close to the earth, that I learned in my childhood, has stayed with me. Adding the bees, watching their community work in common purpose, has been fascinating. To have them gather pollen from our flowers makes us feel a part of their cycle.

What do you want people to know about bees? Bees are a very important component of growing plants.   One third of our foods rely on bees and thousands of other insects to pollinators to fertilize the plants in order for the plant to produce fruits and vegetables that we eat.

What would you like people to do with bees? I would like them to respect bees and acknowledge their importance.  Honey bees are very focused on their jobs and typically won't bother you unless you bother them.  Should a honey bee sting, she dies. Bees are very susceptible to pesticides and herbicides. Through education, the goal is to reduce and ideally eliminate their use to help save the bees.

It would be good for people to plant a variety of flowers that have different bloom times. By doing that it provides a food source, pollen and nectar for them to feed their hive as well as make honey.  Our climate allows us to have something blooming every day of the year!

I understand that you worked hard to help make the town a “Bee City” USA? Tell me more about your desire to do so? I first heard about the Bee City USA designation through the Mecklenburg Beekeepers Association Newsletter.  With the help of Carol Buie-Jackson we talked to our town manager, Hazen Blodgett, who is also a beekeeper, the process began. Carol & I made a presentation to the Matthews Town Council and in December 8, 2014, they voted unanimously to become a Bee City USA.  We were the fourth town in the nation to become a Bee City USA community. Each year we must send a report for an annual renewal.

There are now 115 certified city and campus affiliates across the nation.   Bee City/Campus USA is joining forces with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the largest pollinator protection organization in the world! As of June 30, 2018, Bee City USA will formally become an initiative of Xerces, leveraging Xerces’ 46-year history in support of Bee City USA’s continued growth.

“My first passion in plants was herbs. The lore, utility and fragrance were three of the most fascinating aspects of herbs for me. ”

— Martha Krauss

What are some of the annual events you offer? We participate in Earth Day in the Spring, KIND (Kids in Nature Day) in the Fall and have a booth two times a year at the Matthews Farmers Market.  Matthews Park & Recreation constructed the Country Place Pocket Park at the corner of Country Place and South Trade St.

Who else has been instrumental in the creation and upkeep of the pollinator garden at Country Place Pocket Park? At the request of Matthews Bee City USA, they prepared a place for us to plant a Pollinator Garden.  Many of the plants I already grew in our own garden and others were purchased with help from a grant from Duke Energy.  The planting and upkeep was done by Matthews Bee City USA friends and Cross & Crown Boy Scout Troop 140.  A Boy Scout is now looking at the possibility of expanding and edging the garden for an Eagle project.

Photo of one of the gardens at the Krauss home. Photo by Martha Krauss

Do you regularly attend local events? Initially, Will and I took a class on beekeeping in Union County.  It was a good introduction and we try to attend local workshops. There are classes to become certified and master beekeepers. We attend Mecklenburg Beekeepers Association meetings and sometimes the Union County Beekeepers.  They are very informative with different programs and it is also a good time to talk to other beekeepers. There is an old joke that says if you have five beekeepers talking, you will have seven opinions!

What do you want people to know about you? My first passion in plants was herbs. The lore, utility and fragrance were three of the most fascinating aspects of herbs for me. For some years I propagated mostly unusual herbs by cuttings and sold them to a couple of local hardware stores and to Wing Haven for their Spring Sale. I grew over sixty different kinds of herbs and also did programs. For a couple of springtimes, I worked on Saturdays at Renfrow hardware to help teach customers about herbs.  I was “The Herb Lady.” 

What are your intentions for the future?  After 20 years in business we have retired from our Bed & Breakfast that we hosted in our home.  Our plan is to stay here in Matthews and enjoy working in our gardens, with the bees. We enjoy travel and want to continue that. We have visited all fifty states, now.

One of the Krauss hives that was possibly toppled by a hungry or curious bear. Photo by Martha Krauss

What are your hopes for the future of Matthews (and bees)? We hope that the town continues with good stewardship and that Matthews Bee City USA will continue to provide opportunities to teach about honey bees and pollinators. Residents need to be aware of the problems caused by pesticides and herbicides for our bee population. While sprays can serve a purpose, it is important that they not be used indiscriminately.

The Many Faces of Buzzing Bugs

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

Bees, wasps, and hornets are amazing creatures!  They are hard workers, often pollinating our flowers and food crops.  We have more than 4,000 species in the US! Did you know that North Carolina is home to more than 500 species of native bees? That’s the good news.  The bad news is that many of our pollinators are at risk, with populations declining by more than 30%, according to Our State magazine.

Let’s look at a few of these buzzing bugs with interesting names,  and how you can make a pollinator-friendly habitat in your yard.

Ever seen a Bald-faced Hornet? How about a Blue-winged Wasp?  A Cow Killer? All of these can be found in NC.

Image via Creative Commons photographer Piccolo Namek

The Bald-faced Hornet builds a bulbous nest that hangs  from a tree or shrub. Stay away from this one! These are aggressive hornets that can sting repeatedly.  Hire a professional to deal with a nest.

Image via Wikimedia Creative Commons

The Blue-winged Wasp is aptly named, with dark metallic blue wings that glint in the sunlight. It is a natural predator of the Japanese beetle, and its larva feed on the beetle grubs. What’s not to love about that!

Image via Wikimedia Creative Commons

Last we’ve got the Cow Killer, AKA the Red Velvet Ant.  These are not ants at all, but members of the wasp family.  The females are wingless and pack a powerful punch with their sting, reputedly enough to kill a cow!

Image via Wikimedia Creative Commons

Want to make your yard pollinator-friendly?  There are lots of ways!

• First, cut the chemicals.  Everything that lives in your yard,  from insects to birds, will thank you for it.

• Next, plant pollinator plants, like zinnias, echinacea, bee balm, coreopsis and goldenrod.  Wasps, hornets, and bees benefit, and you get to enjoy a color yard.

• Finally, be a little messy.  Don’t be so fast to deadhead and clean up plant litter around your yard.  These areas can provide over-wintering places.

These buzzing pollinators provide valuable services to us humans.  Embrace them in your yard!

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

HAWK: A Partnership Built on Cross-Pollination

For Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, the Matthews chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation, education and awareness go hand-in-hand – something the group strives for in increasing their membership, working closely with the town and finding community and commonality in all their endeavors.

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Five years ago HAWK worked with the Town of Matthews to register and certify the town itself as a Wildlife Habitat through the North Carolina Wildlife Federation – the 64th such community to do so in the nation and the first chapter in North Carolina. To date, there are 13 such communities in NC and approximately 200 across the country. To add, “tens of thousands of supporters and activists are currently members in the statewide organization,” said Tim Gestwicki, CEO of the NCWF.

According to Daniel Jakobovits, avid “tree hugger, wildlife/naturalist,” former vice-present, now new -president of HAWK, education and awareness go hand-in-hand – something the group strives for in increasing their membership, working closely with the town (government) and finding community and commonality in all their endeavors.

“Part of our mission is to continue to educate the public,” said Jakobovits. “You can’t care about something unless you understand it……and there is the intersection of what we do. We (intend to) continue down our mission to educate folks,” he said, adding that people don’t necessarily need to kill the spider or bee or snake they see. “All of these (are) wonderful things - to have folks understand this and have that sense of wonder and engagement for things that are all around us, but (that) we don’t know about.”

There are 4 elements required for a backyard habitat:

• food

• water

• shelter

• a place to raise young.

On the first Tuesday of each month (during the body of the school year), HAWK holds meetings on topics ranging from deer and coexistence in the community to native plants and wildlife. From moss workshops, owl and frog walks to worm composting classes and foraging. They’re often attended by up to 100 interested audience-members. In addition, the group hosts annual events such as Earth Day and Kids in Nature Day (KIND) with the Town of Matthews, and hosts a table at the Farmer’s Market twice a year.

Annually, HAWK follows through on their mission to help increase awareness and membership and help homeowners and businesses certify their properties.  Said Gestwicki, “The community wildlife certification would never have occurred without the full involvement of HAWK – they came up with the game plan, the objects, the goals and followed through to inform the constituents of Matthews, and implement a plan. This could not have happened without HAWKS’ past, present and future dedication to all local wildlife and its habitat.”

Jordon Vardon, showing one aspect of his backyard habitat. Photo by Cyma Shapiro

At the heart of this work is the commitment made by individuals. “The value of becoming a member of our group as well as the value of certifying their property doesn’t take an act of great magnitude,” said Jakobovits. “Certifying your yard – the idea is that you are making some level of commitment for a habitat – food, water and shelter, and a place to raise their young. It doesn’t need to be for larger creatures – bear or deer. But, if we can connect all these habitats, we now have a corridor for wildlife.

People who have a birdhouse or bird feeder are already two steps down that path. All they need is a birdbath or source of water and they can get their property certified.”  In effect, he said, “you are doing this with purpose – how can I do this better?”

It is a message not lost on Jordan Vardon, who recently certified his property on Willow Brook Road – 1/3 acres in the middle of a subdivision.  According to Vardon, the father of two young children, this is not only a way to learn about birds, which he is clearly passionate about, but also teach his two young children how to identify and enjoy them, as well.

“This is a way to bring more birds into the back yard,” he said, “while creating an oasis for (some) of the birds in decline. (We’re) giving birds the space to come back.” To date, he’s seen 30 different species in his yard - a few of which have chosen to nest in two carefully hidden bird houses  - “hidden by design to give them cover – the birds want to feel safe,” Vardon said. He likens his pursuit of bird-watching to a treasure hunt.

In his case, despite a small yard surrounded by nearby houses, his surroundings have created a joyful space for his family to enjoy - his poured concrete antique birdbath was purchased after a six-month hunt; his bird feeders are hoisted in the trees nearest the bedroom to allow the family to watch the various species more closely. This is a shared experience - “the kids love it,” he said.

In the end, it is that same experience which brings many Matthews individuals together. “We’re for all wildlife – small and big and everything that is part of that web,” said Jakobovits. “Part of the crossover involves people interested and passionate about bees. We’re a….cross pollination of people (whose interest) extends from bees to wildlife to humans,” he said. “We work very well together; we don’t compete with (other organizations) – we want people to enjoy and connect with nature at whatever level they want to.”

“ We’re a….cross pollination of people (whose interest) extends from bees to wildlife to humans.”

— Daniel Jakobovits

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

For more information or to join HAWK, visit their website Habitat and Wildlife Keepers.

Matthews Morning Minute: October 12, 2018

News About Town: The rain in Matthews stays mainly in the drain…or sometimes not. If you can, please make sure the storm drains near you are clear of debris. Make sure yard waste bags are off the curb so water can flow freely. Republic Services didn’t collect trash or recycling yesterday, so they will operate on on a one-day delay. Public Works will continue to aid Republic with yard waste collection.

Photo by Norah Burke

News Around Town: School is out for the second day in a row and now we’re all secretly hoping it doesn’t snow this year.

Lots of Good Things: There are a lot of activities this weekend, so let’s recap, shall we?

Butler High School Softball Team Yard Sale: Proceeds will benefit Make A Wish Foundation and the school softball program. Cash-only. Saturday, October 13, 9 AM til 1 PM, 2308 Heathershire Lane, Matthews .

Fire Department Recruiting Fair and New Truck Wet Down:  236 Trade Street, Matthews. Saturday, October 13th, 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. The department will “wet down” their new truck as a way to kick off its service. Also tour the station, see the gear they use up close, gain hands-on experience, and learn about becoming a Volunteer Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Corp member, or Explorer.

Kids in Nature Day sponsored by HAWK: Saturday, October 13 from 10 AM til 1 PM at Squirrel Lake Park, 1631 Pleasant Plains Road, Matthews, NC. Join Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, the Town of Matthews, and the NC Wildlife Federation for fishing, STEM activities, learn about animals and enjoy all sorts of nature exploration.

Matthews Animal Clinic 50th Anniversary: Saturday, October 13 from 2:00-5:00 PM. 10600 Monroe Road, Matthews. They’ll have food, fun games, giveaways, and hospital tours. 

Matthews Morning Minute: October 9, 2018

News About Town: The Town Council meeting went late, as all council meetings with planning portions do. The council discussed a variety of topics from officially recognizing Community Planning Month to addressing speeds, pedestrian safety, and the crosswalk between Matthews Station Street and Brakeman’s. Joe Padilla, Executive Public Policy Director for REBIC, and Bob Henderson, the lawyer for the Brigmans (who own most of the undeveloped property in the Entertainment District Small Area Plan), politely requested the town defer approval of the Small Area Plan Overlays. The board approved the deferral.

News Around Town: On Monday a vehicle crash on South Trade Street caused a natural gas leak. Matthews Police Department, Matthews Fire and EMS, and Matthews Citizen Volunteers were called to the scene. For a lengthy time South Trade was closed from Country Place Drive to Main Street. Matthews PD rerouted cars to Fullwood Lane and East John Street during the clean up.

One Fun Thing: Kids in Nature Day is back this Saturday, October 13 from 10 AM til 1 PM at Squirrel Lake Park. Join Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, the Town of Matthews, and the NC Wildlife Federation for fishing, STEM activities, learn about animals and enjoy all sorts of nature exploration. Be prepared to have fun and get dirty! Squirrel Lake Park, 1631 Pleasant Plains Road, Matthews, NC.

Matthews Morning Minute: October 2, 2018

News About Town: The Economic Development Advisory Committee will host the 2018 Business Summit: “Matthews Rising: Hot Trends and Marketing Insights for Small Business” on Friday, October 19, 2018, from 11:15 AM til 1: 00 PM. This free event will be held in Town Hall and includes lunch. There will also be presentations on marketing, a panel discussion, and hear ways the Town of Matthews supports local businesses. You must register by Friday, October 12, seating is limited.

Speaking of economic development…

News Above Town: Highs in the low 80s with a cloud cover. Wednesday the temperature goes up, so take the day and pretend it’s fall.

News Around Town: Hart InterCivic, an election technology company with a paper-based voting system (Verity Voting), has picked Matthews for its North Carolina office. Employees will service counties across the state that use Hart’s Verity Voting system.

One Fun Thing: Hang out tonight with the Habitat and Wildlife Keepers. Jeff Rieves (one of our contributing writers) will provide time-tested advice on keeping the deer from turning your landscape into a pretty pricey buffet. He’ll share excellent plant choices, fencing, and other deterrents and you can share your own tricks that have worked. Matthews Community Center, 100 West McDowell St., Matthews, 7 til 9 PM.