Morning Minute: November 14, 2018

News About Town: It’s time once again for Coffee with a Commissioner. Head out in the rain and meet three of our Council Members at 10 AM at Brakeman’s Coffee for a chance to chat. Conversation is led by the attendees at these events, so come ready with all the Matthews questions you’ve been wondering about.

News Around Town: If you see a particularly hairy looking male police officer around town don’t worry, nobody’s joining ZZ Top. Thirty two Matthews Police officers are participating in No Shave November. Each officer donated $25 to participate and those funds will be donated to Zero Cancer Foundation, a prostate cancer patient advocacy and public awareness group. Check out the Zero Cancer site to learn more and donate.

One Good Thing: Aside from our obvious obsession with bacon, we at the Beacon also love handmade goods and small businesses. Are you a crafter, baker, candlestick maker? Manicurist or masseuse? Got something that would make a great gift? We have a gift guide for the smallest of businesses at the best of prices: $15! Message us or email Norah about advertising in our Hyperlocal Holiday Gift Guide.

Morning Minute: November 12, 2018

News About Town: The Matthews Board of Commissioners has a regularly scheduled meeting tonight at 7 PM in Town Hall. Items on the agenda include recognition of Matthews 101 participants and several rezoning issues.

Novant Hospital Matthews is requesting the rezoning of property on their campus for the construction of two new office buildings. Part of the rezoning includes cost-sharing between the Town and Novant for a connector road (Andrew Caroline Drive) from Sam Newell to Matthews Mint Hill Road. Novant will also allow the Carolina Thread Trail through their property, which will connect to the new multi-use paths constructed along Matthews Mint Hill Road. A third aspect is agreement of Novant to allow the future Lynx Silver Line through a portion of the campus.

Tonight the Board will vote on the hotly contested 269 South Trade Street property. This project proposes 12 homes on a 2.4 acre lot adjacent to the greenway entrance on South Trade. Also on the agenda is a vote on a map and text amendment for the Monroe Road Small Area Plan Overlay. The Town Planning Department recommends a deferral on this vote until December 10, 2018.

News Around Town: Yesterday the Town of Matthews and American Legion Post 235 hosted a Veteran’s Day ceremony in Stumptown Park. The program consisted of a choir from Independence High School and a several moving speeches. A graveside ceremony followed at Old Matthews Cemetary (Pleasant Hill Drive) in conjunction with Marine Corps League Charlotte 750 to honor the fallen World War I soldiers of Matthews, NC.

At 11 AM today the Matthews Rotary Club will honor area veterans with their 28th Annual Veterans Day lunch at the Levine Senior Center. Numerous restaurants are offering Veterans free meals with valid ID through today.

The Matthews Beacon would like to thank all our veterans for their bravery and service.

One Good Thing: Girl Scout Troop 1497 is hosting a blood drive today at Brakeman’s Coffee (225 N. Trade Street). Community Blood Center of the Carolinas will be at the popular coffee shop (we’re assuming in a mobile donor unit) between the hours of 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Donate blood and get a free drink!

Morning Minute: November 9, 2018

News About Town: Sunday, November 11, the mayor and Matthews Board of Commissioners will join members of Matthews American Legion Post 235 for a special Veterans Day Ceremony. Starting at 11:00 a.m. at Stumptown Park, at noon the ceremony will move to at Old Matthews Cemetery (Pleasant Hill Drive) to honor and remember WWI soldiers, including Private Grady B. Hooks who was killed on the last day of WWI, November 11, 1918, and is buried in the cemetery.

Image courtesy of BAPS Mandir website

News Around Town: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir celebrated Diwali and New Year Annakut yesterday with vegetarian food, cultural programs, and traditional entertainment. Special Diwali celebrations are organized for children and youths to preserve the true spiritual importance of the festival. Throughout the celebrations, Hindu devotees ask Bhagwan (God) for enlightenment, ethical economic prosperity, and success in careers, among other rituals and traditions.

One Fun Thing: Machu Picchu Restaurant has a night of Venezuelan fun planned with bagpipes and stand-up comedy. Venezuelan Comedians Wilmer Ramirez and Honorius Torrealba will keep you laughing Saturday, November 10. Tickets available through Eventbrite.

Morning Minute: November 8, 2018

News About and Around Town: Election Day has come and gone, and here in Matthews we have a mix of new representation and familiar faces. Susan Rodriguez-McDowell defeated 22 year incumbent Bill James for County Commission District 6. Our at large commissioners retained their seats - Pat Cotham, Ella Scarborough, and Trevor Fuller. In the State Senate, Dan Bishop held on to his seat. The State House race remains undecided, with just 53 votes separating incumbent Bill Brawley and challenger Rachel Hunt, with absentee ballots left to count. Absentee ballots were to be postmarked no later than Election Day, so it will be some time before all ballots are in and counted.

One Fun Thing: Millennials will meet at 7 PM tonight at Seaboard Taproom and Wine Bar (213 N Trade St, Matthews ) for the Matthews Library’s series Books on Tap: 20s & 30s Book Club. Grab a drink and join the discussion about Florida by Lauren Groff.

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.

Morning Minute: November 5, 2018

News About Town: After the two major accidents last week in the residential section of John Street it’s even more imperative to discuss a safe plan for the future of the corridor. The John Street Working Group meeting is tonight, November 5, at 6 PM at Town Hall. This is a chance to give input, to see and learn about the consensus design created by the Working Group, and give direction on how the committee will proceed. There will be several ways to interact, but are limited to those in attendance. If you can’t make it in person, the meeting will be live-streamed on the Town’s Facebook page, but the smart phone polling and input will not be available to those at home. Comments, however, will be taken.

News Around Town: Tickets went on sale this past Friday for the annual holiday shows at the Community Center Fullwood Theater. The Nutcracker and Sugar Plum Tea Party tickets are available but Breakfast with Santa has sold out. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone (704-321-7275), or in person at the Matthews Community Center. Prices are as follows:

• The Nutcracker: $5 (ages 12 and under), $7(ages 13 and up)

• Sugar Plum Tea Party: $5 per person.

One Good Thing: It has been one week since the Butler shooting and for a few more days you can buy a #ButlerStrong tee shirt from Cotton Gin Printing to help those affected in the Butler shooting continue the healing process. Prices range from $12 to $15 and $6 of the proceeds from each sale will go to a fund to help the Butler community. Over $2,200 has been raised so far.

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.

Morning Minute: November 1, 2018

News About Town: It’s time for another breakfast (or coffee, or moment to simply say hi) with Mayor Paul Bailey this Saturday morning, November 3, at Miki's Restaurant (1819 Matthews Township Parkway) at 8:00 a.m. Lots has happened in Matthews this week and if you have questions it’s the perfect opportunity to find out Mayor Bailey’s perspective.

News Around Town: Yesterday morning the fire department responded to a three-car accident on John Street. This was the second three-car accident this week. Lula Pope Miller, a John Street resident in Monday’s accident, was taken to the hospital and later died. The accident yesterday, Wednesday, October 31, resulted in three people being taken to the hospital. Two of those injured sustained life-threatening injuries.

Vehicle in the Wednesday morning crash on John Street.

One Fun Thing: You let your own dogs out and head on over to Stumptown Park with them for Pawsitively Matthews this Saturday, November 3 from 10 AM until 4 PM. Visit the pet-friendly vendors, munch on some food truck goodies, and listen to music while appreciating the paw-positive vibes.