Morning Minute: Tuesday, January 28, 2020

News About Town:  Matthews Fire & EMS had their annual awards banquet this past Saturday evening at the Plantation Estates Clubhouse. The awards presented were decided through a survey of peers. Those honored include Officer of the Year Ryan Hanes, Firefighters of the Year Jodi Aldridge and Harry McLaughlin, EMT of the Year Montana Hudgens, Rookie of the Year Pablo Maldonado, Fire Corps Member of the Year John Wasco, and LH Yandle Distinguished Service recipient Christopher Clark. For a glimpse into the difficult work (with plenty of fun and camaraderie) of being a Matthews Fire Fighter, watch their video review of 2019.

News Around Town: Be on the lookout for scam texts and emails that appear as though they’re from FedEx. The phony message contains a link that will take you to a page requesting credit card information. FedEx will not request information through text or email. If you receive one such message, let FedEx know.

One Fun Thing:  Need a hobby? Revisit yoga? Pickle ball? If you’re looking for something fun to do check out the Park and Rec newsletter for February.

Morning Minute: Monday, January 27, 2020

News About Town:  The Town Transportation Department will present a mobility study update to the Board prior to the regular Board of Commissioners meeting tonight. The mobility study began in April 2019, and has concentrated on transportation and parking throughout downtown Matthews.Following open meeting laws, the public is welcome to attend. The presentation will begin at 5:30 in the Jordan Room of Town Hall

News Around Town: Matthews-based stayAPT Suites unveiled a new approach for extended stay hotels. Each suite contains three distinct living areas (kitchen, living room, bedroom) recalling a home away from home residential design. The rooms surround common courtyard that includes a grilling area and fire pit. The brand is launching 12 hotels to be built this year and an additional 30 in 2021. Don’t start planning an extended staycation, the closest stayAPT Suites will be in Charlotte.

One Good Thing: Mamma Mia! takes over Fullwood Stage this weekend, bringing ABBA’s greatest hits to Matthews. Matthews Playhouse has nine performances of the hit production between January 3 and February 9.
ASC Connect with Culture members: use your card to BOGO tickets for this event.

Morning Minute: Friday, January 24, 2020

News About Town: The agenda for Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting is online. During the meeting, new members of the Police Department will be introduced, there is a moment to acknowledge the Finance Department’s receipt of a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.The Board will also consider an administrative amendment to the Harmony Hills Townhome design.

News Around Town: Moving into the weekend, as temps climb slightly upward, thoughts turn to gardening. If you’re thinking it’s too cold to plant, think again. According to phenological signs, when daffodils are in bloom, it’s time to plant garden and sugar peas, beets, carrots, and chard.

One Good Thing: Nothing in life is free, except for trees at the Trees Charlotte giveaway…and opinions, advice, kittens, and (to the philosophically inclined) will. Of all of those, free trees are the best deal, and Matthews residents should reserve their trees for the February 1 Matthews TreeStore. The more people who reserve trees, the more stock Trees Charlotte will bring. RSVPs are encouraged, but registration closes January 28. Make sure to tell your tree hugging friends.

Morning Minute: Thursday, January 23, 2020

News About Town: A handful of times we’ve mentioned when town advisory boards have openings. If you’re unsure what they do, or if you’d be interested in joining, you can sit in on a meeting to see firsthand what the board does. Next week, the Transportation Advisory Committee has a meeting on Monday, the 27th, at 5:30 pm. The Cultural Diversity Committee (CDC) and Planning Board both have scheduled meetings on Tuesday, the 28th, at 7 pm. The following week, the Veteran’s Advisory Committee and Board of Adjustment have meetings. Check out the Town’s calendar for other meetings throughout the month.

News Around Town: CMS has a teacher workday tomorrow (Friday, January 24). With no public school buses on the road, enjoy the easy commute.

One Good Thing: It’s safe to say no other event name has our interest piqued more than Carolina Carnage Armwrestling Tournament II. Biceps, deltoids, and pectorals will take center stage this Saturday, January, 25 at the Levine Senior Center. The event has several classes of participants, from amateurs to pros, and is open to the public to watch.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, January 22, 2020

News About Town:  If you’ve driven down Charles Street lately you may have noticed a new wooden fence. That fence is the first stage of construction for the Crestdale Heritage Trail. The trail, running parallel to the trail tracks, will eventually be a walkable tour with signs denoting historic significance. Ultimately, the path will connect the Crestdale neighborhood to downtown and to the Sportsplex.

News Around Town: Join Mecklenburg County Master Gardener Hallie Walker at the Matthews Library at 11 am on February 8 to learn the pruning basics of your favorite shrubs. Firstly, you must find... another shrubbery! Then, after all Monty Python quotes have been exhausted, you’ll learn to improve the health of your shrubs while saving time and money for future care. (Pro tip: We’re coming up close on the right time for blueberry pruning.)

One Good Thing: Want to learn more about local government? Are you a graduate of Matthews 101 and hungry to learn more? Civics 101, organized by the League of Women Voters, is a five-week course that covers a brief overview of the City of Charlotte budgeting (similar to Matthews, but on a much larger scale) and then dives into county-operated courts, education, and government. In the final week, you’ll have a chance to meet media experts and ask questions about current events and local journalism. The course is in-depth enough to give you a better understanding of the processes and responsibilities of various county agencies. Classes are February 24, March, 3, 10, 17, and 24. The link to register: https://my.lwv.org/north-carolina/charlotte-mecklenburg/civics-101-program .

Morning Minute: Tuesday, January 21, 2020

News About Town:  The Board of Commissioners will hold three special meetings to begin the 2019-2021 term. The first meeting, tonight at Town Hall from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, the Board of Commissioners will learn about the basics of a Council-Manager form of government, as well as receive brief overviews of various town departments. The second and third meetings, January 29 and February 12, will cover topics including current projects and initiatives as well as capital improvement needs and prioritization. Read the agenda here.

Matthews resident Freddie Baylor speaking before a crowd at Town Hall during the Fourth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Peaceful March.

News Around Town: Last year, the Mecklenburg Board of Elections approved new voting machines manufactured by Election Systems and Software, or ES&S.  The machines were approved after the General Assembly passed a law requiring voter machines to produce a paper ballot. The ES&S machines will produce a summary showing the voter’s choices, which will be fed into another machine for tabulation. The paper ballot is a precautionary measure against hacking. Want to see how these new machines work? They'll be at the Matthews library on Tuesday, January 28 from 2:30 - 6:30 pm.

One Good Thing: The 2020 Point-in-Time Count is coming up on January 29. The event takes place on one night to survey each person experiencing sheltered or unsheltered homelessness. The results also detail temporary and permanent housing capacity and inventory throughout Mecklenburg County. The data accumulated is required for the county to receive federal homelessness funding assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). Read the 2019 report here.

Morning Minute: Friday, January 17, 2020

News About Town: The Matthews Police and Fire Departments are teaming up for the second annual “Matthews Public Safety Year-In-Review”.  This year both Chief Clark Pennington of the Matthews Police Department and Chief Rob Kinniburgh of the Matthews Fire Department will examine Matthews emergency response in four town hall style meetings. Each meeting will concentrate on one of four town quadrants (referred to as “Beats" 1, 2, 3, & 4) and is a prime opportunity for anyone in Matthews to learn about public safety in 2019 as well as what to expect from the departments in 2020. Meeting dates and locations are listed on the Town’s website. 

News Around Town: The daffodils are popping up, which means the garden bug will start biting green thumbs everywhere (not literally). Matthews, gardening zone 7b, is a prime location for growing many popular vegetables. If you’re new to gardening, or simply like to have some instruction as you go, Renfrow Farms’ Pressly Williams wrote the workbook on it.  Covering site selection, sunlight requirements, soil health, seed & plant selection, watering and fertilizer needs, and some spacing guidelines, it also includes a month-by-month planting calendar. Purchase the downloadable copy of the 20-page workbook from the SkillPop website here.

One Fun Thing: This Sunday, join the Catawba Lands Conservancy and the Carolina Thread Trail for a stroll down Four-Mile Creek Greenway. The walk will include stops to examine flora and fauna,the local ecology. Meet at Matthews Elementary (200 W. McDowell St.) at 2:30 pm, Sunday, January 19. Bring a water bottle and wear comfortable shoes, the walk is approximately three relatively flat miles. RSVP required.

Don’t Forget: Community members are invited to the Fourth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, a collaborative event organized by Matthews United Methodist and Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist churches. The film and walk to Town Hall will start at 2:00 pm on January 19, at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist (381 Crestdale Road).

Morning Minute: Thursday, January 16, 2020

News About Town: The lobby and Records Division of the Matthews Police Station will undergo renovations starting next week. The location of the renovations means the front door to the station will not be open to the public. The department has installed a call box by the door, simply press the button and a department representative will assist you. The renovations are expected to take six to eight weeks. If you need to dispose of medicine, the drop box will be unavailable during this time. Instead, The CVS Pharmacy at 1305 Matthews Township Parkway is an authorized DEA Take-Back location.

News Around Town: This Saturday, head over to the bowling alley for the grand opening of Bowlero, 11210 Brigmans Rd. Embracing all the fun of bowling with just the right amount of throwback style, Bowlero isn’t the old smoke-filled bowling alley of by-gone decades. For the grand opening, there are drink specials and free bowling, but you have to RSVP. Judging by their website, The Dude abides.

Don’t Forget: Community members are invited to the Fourth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, a collaborative event organized by Matthews United Methodist and Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist churches. The film and walk to Town Hall will start at 2:00 pm on January 19, at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist (381 Crestdale Road).

Morning Minute: Wednesday, January 15, 2020

News About Town: The Matthews Police Department recently swore in two new members of the Patrol Division. Officer Tai Pham, a Charlotte native, recently completed Basic Law Enforcement Training at South Piedmont Community College. Officer Mark Wilson moves to the area from South Florida. He recently completed Basic Law Enforcement Training at Central Piedmont Community College.

News Around Town: It’s National Pizza Week. If you’re a fan of the cheesy, carby goodness pizza has to offer, pick up a pie, park yourself somewhere comfy, and celebrate. Rest assured, in the depths of the Matthews stormwater drains, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be celebrating with you.

One Good Thing: If you have a teen who needs a boost of self confidence before tackling real world challenges like job interviews, the Matthews Library (230 Matthews Station St.) has the program for your teen. This Saturday, January 18, at 2 pm, Kamella Emmanuel will lead a workshop on “Loving Yourself from the Inside Out.” The program will use affirmation and self-reflection techniques to build self-confidence for many everyday applications. This program is designed for teenagers and young adults, up to age 21. Register online.

Don’t Forget: Community members are invited to the Fourth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, a collaborative event organized by Matthews United Methodist and Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist churches. The film and walk to Town Hall will start at 2:00 pm on January 19, at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist (381 Crestdale Road).

Morning Minute: Tuesday, January 14, 2020

News About Town: After originally filing in May 2019 for rezoning from I-1 to I-1 (CD), the Stronghaven Warehouse at 433 East John St. site plan has been approved. The warehouse has been using its John St. loading dock to receive and load shipments. With this new plan, the warehouse docks will face Charles St. and trucks will access the site by Charles Buckley Way or Charles St. New landscaping will line a large portion of the John St. side, leaving a small apron for employee’s cars. Charles St. will also have some landscaping, continuing the style along Charles Buckley Way.

News Around Town: Duke and Penn State lacrosse fans will swarm Matthews in February, when the teams play at the Sportsplex. The top-10 matchup will be played Feb. 22; tickets range from $12 (for youth) to $50, with access to the endzone fieldhouse.

One Good Thing: The Town of Matthews is seeking board members for various Town advisory boards. If you’re interested in becoming more involved, there are many opportunities to jump right in. These boards meet monthly and examine issues to be presented to the Board of Commissioners for consideration. Contact Lori Canapinno, Town Clerk, at 704-708-1222 with questions. To apply: complete an application and submit it to Lori via email (lcanapinno@matthewsnc.gov).

Don’t Forget: Community members are invited to the Fourth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, a collaborative event organized by Matthews United Methodist and Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist churches. The film and walk to Town Hall will start at 2:00 pm on January 19, at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist (381 Crestdale Road).

Morning Minute: Monday, January 13, 2020

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners met at Town Hall this past Saturday and set the tone for the term ahead. The six present members created a list of 18 important tasks to tackle. Several broad subjects were listed, including, but not limited to workforce/affordable housing, transportation, attracting jobs and economic growth. Other items continue projects from the previous Board’s agenda, such as expanding Stumptown Park and addressing parking issues in the downtown area.

News Around Town: Butler High School senior Anthony Carter Jr. has picked a college. The offensive lineman recently committed to NC State. According to Anthony’s Twitter, other college possibilities included Illinois, UCF, Boston College, Syracuse, Louisville, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Texas A&M, UNC and Michigan State.

One Good Thing: Community members are invited to the Fourth Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, a collaborative event organized by Matthews United Methodist and Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist churches. The event will start at 2:00 pm on January 19, with a film commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist (381 Crestdale Road). Celebrations will continue on Monday. At 8:30 am, revisit Mount Moriah for a Community Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall. To RSVP for breakfast, call Trudy Jones at 980-245-9090 ext. 302. A commemorative worship service celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and presentation of the MLK Scholarship will follow breakfast.

Morning Minute: Friday, January 10, 2020

News About Town: The Town of Matthews was selected by America Walks as one of 19 agencies to receive a Community Change Grant. America Walks is a nonprofit devoted to advancing safe, equitable, accessible, and enjoyable places to walk through awarding grants and providing resources to effectively advocate for change. The award from the Community Change Grant will be used to improve connectivity between the Community Center and McDowell Arts Center. (Remember the raised crosswalk between the two buildings that was painted during Matthews Alive?) Currently, the town has a call for artists to propose a mural design for the crosswalk. This mural will increase visibility, and create a safe crossing for Matthews Elementary students who use it daily.

Finalizing the climbing walls at the Matthews Inner Peaks; image via Inner Peaks’ Facebook.

News Around Town: According to ApartmentList’s January 2020 rent report, rent in Matthews increased 0.7 percent in January and 4.7 percent over the past year. The national average for monthly rent is $1,192, an increase of 1.4% over the past year. Of the nine towns and cities listed on the Charlotte area rent report, the apartment rental average for both one- and two-bedroom apartments in Matthews were higher than any other location ($1,220 and $1,420, respectively). Despite the high rent, Matthews’ annual percentage increase was third-highest, behind Pineville (5.6% annual increase), and Cornelius (5% annual increase).

One Fun Thing: Inner Peaks Matthews, 10715 Independence Pointe Pkwy., is officially open. Want to get your climb on? Hours are: Monday through Friday: 10 am-10 pm; Saturday 10 am-8 pm, and Sunday 12 pm- 7 pm. Not in the mood for reaching great heights? Stay firmly grounded; the center also hosts yoga classes on Monday and Wednesday.

Don’t Forget: Tonight Sidecar Social Club plays the Community Center as Parks and Rec hosts their first Cool Vibes Winter Music Concert of the series at Fullwood Theater, 100 W McDowell St. The fun starts at 5:30pm for food, drinks, and alcohol sales. This event is for ages 21 and up only. Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door on the day of the event.

Morning Minute: Thursday, January 9, 2020

News About Town: This Saturday, January 11 (9 am to 3 pm), the mayor and Board of Commissioners will meet at Town Hall for a Board Retreat. The retreat aims to build a foundation for working together as a governing team. While the entire meeting is open to the public, the last hour (2-3 pm) may be of most interest to the public. During this portion, Board Members will share their individual objectives for this two-year term.

Image via Unsplash

News Around Town: The Matthews Library wants to know about your Summer Break experience. If you or your child participated in the summer reading program, take a moment to fill out the online survey. The surveys are part of the Public Library Association's Project Outcome and will allow Charlotte Mecklenburg Library to measure its successes against other libraries nationally. Take the child/teen version here or the caregiver version here. Surveys end on January 31, 2020. 

One Fun Thing: Do you thrive under the spotlight? This Sunday and Monday, Matthews Playhouse is holding auditions for Pinocchio. Public performances will be February 21 through March 1. Reserve your audition spot here and let your talent shine.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, January 8, 2020

News About Town: Get out your zoot suit and dancing shoes, this Friday Parks and Rec hosts the first Cool Vibes Winter Music Concert of the series at Fullwood Theater, 100 W McDowell St. For one magical evening the Community Center will be transformed into a speakeasy, with era-appropriate decor and staff dressed in1920s apparel. No need for bathtub gin, there’s a cash bar for beer and wine. Eat a dinner in downtown or snack on heavy hors d'ouevres (while they last) at the pre-show social. The fun starts at 5:30pm for food, drinks, and alcohol sales. This event is for ages 21 and up only.

Tickets are $15 in advance, and $18 at the door on the day of the event.

News Around Town: Thanks to a generous donation from Belk department stores,Levine Middle College High School students will be dressed in style for their prom this year. The high school, which meets on the Levine CPCC campus in Matthews, is a recipient of Project Hometown, one of Belk’s community engagement programs. The company is providing formalwear, makeup, and hairstyling, as well as the location, DJ, and other necessities to make the evening a night to remember. In the past, attendance at the Middle College’s proms has had low attendance with cost cited as a reason.

One Good Thing: Hooks-Orr American Legion is holding a mid-year supply drive for Matthews Elementary School. School supplies and monetary donations can be dropped off during Legion meetings.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, January 7, 2020

News About Town: If you see Duke Energy contractors are scooting around town working on light fixtures, they’re replacing bulbs and doing general upkeep. Lights needing maintenance have a yellow ribbon tied on them, denoting the need for service.

As approved by Town Council last year, this year Duke Energy will be replacing 171 light fixtures and upgrading those fixtures to LED.

News Around Town: The Guild of Charlotte Artists’ Winter Art Show is up at McDowell Arts Center (123 E. McDowell St.) now through the end of January. The Guild is an organization of artists of all mediums that meets monthly for demonstrations and lectures. This exhibit is their Member’s Choice show, meaning members have voted for the best-in-show works to receive cash prizes. To see the display and find out the winners, visit McDowell Arts Center Monday through Friday from 1 to 8 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday from 1 to 6 pm.

One Good Thing: (Courtesy of Debbie LeBlanc Foster) TreesCharlotte Is Coming to Matthews! The Town of Matthews and the Appearance and Tree Advisory Committee for the town is thrilled to announce that we are partnering with TreesCharlotte to bring the first tree store to Matthews!

This event will take place on Saturday, February 1st at Matthews United Methodist Church in the back parking lot, located at 801 S Trade St, from 9 AM until the trees are all given out, or until 11 AM. Residents of Matthews are eligible for up to two FREE trees, with a valid driver’s license or something with your name and Matthews address on it, such as a utility bill. Each tree comes with its own bag of mulch, and a short class is required on proper planting and tree care. These trees are 6-10’ tall, and we will have helpers to load them in your car. Although the trees are free, there is a suggested donation of $20 so that TreesCharlotte can continue to host these events.

You may sign up in advance here https://treescharlotte.org/event/matthews-treestore/ , but trees will be given out at the event on a first-come, first-serve basis. Pre-registration will open on January 10th and close on January 28th. There will be a large assortment of trees, but we won’t have a list until the morning of the event.

Free is good and free trees are better, so please support this event!