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Morning Minute: Friday, March 8, 2019

News About Town: As we indicated yesterday morning, the Monday (March 11) night Board of Commissioner’s meeting agenda is available online.  Items of note include allocating funds for Conceptual Downtown Streetscape Design Work (approved at the last meeting for the amount of $41,250.00), as well as the formal initiation of Zoning Motion 2019-2 to rezone the Stronghaven warehouse property on John Street and Brigman property in the ENT District. There will also be updates on NCDOT projects, Red Brick Partnership, and Republic Services (the Town’s solid waste provider).

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News Around Town: The North Carolina Education Lottery's NC School Heroes contest is live for voting. Celebrate our public school teachers by voting for them (once per day). The 10 educators with the most votes will win $10,000 each, as well as $10,000 for their school. The person who nominated them will win $1,000.  The contest runs through the end of March, and heroes will be announced May 6, 2019 There are plenty of Matthews schools in the running. Vote here.

One Good Thing: Head over to Jonathan’s Restaurant (10630 Independence Pointe Pkwy) tomorrow, March 9, at noon for an unexpected delight. Join the Carolinas Accordion Group at Jonathan’s for a rousing round of Irish tunes. If you don’t play the accordion you’re welcome to bring another instrument and play along or simply listen and enjoy. The group will play from noon until 4 p.m., plan accordionly.

Morning Minute: Thursday, March 7, 2019

News About Town: At Monday’s Town Council Meeting, the Council will have a Public Hearing regarding a change to the Unified Development Ordinance. This change is to the  Approved Tree List and Shrub List (Zoning Motion 2019-1). Changes to the list include the addition of several native species of trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers and the exclusion of the most invasive species, such as Chanticleer pears, a cousin to the shallow-rooted, ornamental Bradford pears commonly planted throughout subdivisions of the 70s and 80s.

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News Around Town: Novant Health, Elevation Church, and Butler High School recently partnered to bring ‘Stop the Bleed' to Butler High. Stop the Bleed is an initiative to provide schools with the tools to stop traumatic blood loss. Butler's Academy of Health and Science students and teachers filled 150 ziplock bags with emergency supplies, such as hemostatic bandages and tourniquets, to have readily available for worst case scenarios. Students and staff were also trained for the use of the products. Each classroom will have one on hand. 

One Good Thing: One Good Thing: Go ahead and wrap your brain around it: we’re springing forward this Sunday. What started as a way to conserve energy during World War I is now the instigator of many heated discussions semiannually. Why are we changing our clocks? (That’s rhetorical.) Don’t forget to move your clocks forward an hour this Sunday. Daylight Saving begins officially at 2 a.m.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, March 6, 2019

News About Town: Need a summer job? The Town is hiring  Seasonal Recreation Leaders to work with our campers at Camp Funshine. Camp FUNshine is a full-day camp for kids ages 6-11. Applicants must be 16 years or older and will accompany groups on lots of fun field trips.  Among other tasks, you’ll be asked to set up equipment for games and help keep facilities neat.  For more information and to apply online, click here.

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News Around Town:  Though the Arts and Science Council hopes for approval of a new approach for funding through sales tax, they’re also advocating for funding with state legislators. ASC staff will go to Raleigh on Wednesday, March 27 for  ARTS North Carolina's annual ARTS Day, a way for arts organizations in NC to collaboratively promote policies to sustain the arts and grow public funding. This year ARTS NC and ASC as part of that, are advocating for arts grants that would equal $1 for every person in NC. Find out more.

One Good Thing: One Good Thing: According to SafeHomes.org, Matthews ranks as the seventh safest city in North Carolina. Admittedly not a well-known website, the site used what appears to be a comprehensive methodology to arrive at their list. We know the Police Department is continually striving to provide a safe town for Matthews and it shows. Congratulations are in order!

Morning Minute: Tuesday, March 5, 2019

News About Town: Child Passenger Safety Seat Technicians will perform a safety check for children’s car seatstomorrow, March 6, at the Matthews Police Station, 1201 Crews Road. From 8 a.m until 11:30 a.m. certified technicians will check seat installation for free, no appointment necessary. Bring the vehicle, seat, and child, if possible. The process will take about 20 minutes. If you can’t make it on the 6th, Safe Kids Char-Meck provides this service every other week in Matthews. 

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News Around Town:  Hear the stories of Wildlife Rehabilitator Emilie Nelson at HAWK’s meeting tonight (March 5, 7 p.m.) at the Community Center. Emilie, creator and owner of Lincolnton-based NC Wildlife Rehab (NCWR), cared for more than 1,200 critters (from squirrels to woodchucks) last year all through volunteerism and donations, without government funding. Donations to NCWR are encouraged; suggestions include: Free and Clear laundry detergent, dryer sheets & bleach, Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid, Paper Towels, Toilet Paper and Cases of Water, Grain Free Dog & Cat Food- wet and dry, Nuts- whole and cracked. No peanuts please, Receiving & baby blankets,Towels.  Matthews Community Center, 100 E McDowell St.

One Good Thing: The Matthews Concert Band formed in 2001 with 15 members and now boasts 50. This Thursday (March 7) the band will celebrate the sounds of jazz and big band in concert. The free show starts at 7:30 at the Community Center (100 E McDowell St.).

Morning Minute: Monday, March 4, 2019

News About Town: If you love following Matthews news and want a source straight from Town Hall, the Town of Matthews is connected on the major social media sites. Find them on Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, Twitter, and YouTube. There are a number of email options for Town information. Sign up for those here.  Rest assured, we’re here to read them all and share what we learn on the Beacon daily.

News Around Town: Gov Roy Cooper appointed Donald Cureton to Judicial District 26 (Mecklenburg County) on February 28. Judge Cureton, an incumbent who lost his District 26A seat to Judge Paulina Havelka in November, fills the seat vacated by Judge Louis A. Trosch, Jr. Judge Trosch now serves the Superior Court of NC.

One Good Thing: The Matthews Beacon is six months old! We’re going to be celebrating this momentous occasion all week long with giveaways and good stuff, but we also have a great deal for small businesses who want to capture our readers’ hearts. If you’ve been eyeing our advertising packages, now’s the time to make the move. To celebrate our half birthday (yes, we blew out half a candle) we’re having a huge sale on ads. Make sure to check them out.

Throwback Thursday: Town Council Contemplates Name for New Main Street (circa 2001)

With permission, The Beacon is archiving past issues of Matthews News and Record (also called The Record and The Matthews Record) articles online. Throwback Thursday articles will include relevant content still facing Matthews today. This article was originally published January 10, 2001.

This original article was printed by The Record in 2001.

This original article was printed by The Record in 2001.

Town Council Contemplates Name for New Main Street, by Tina Lentz, Ph.D.

At the first Board of Commissioners meeting of the new year, officials discussed possible options for naming the new “main” street that will be created with the development of Matthew Station. Historically important family names have been suggested, including Dr. T.G. Ervin Blvd., Watson Matthews Road and Carpenter’s Grove as well as geographically centered names such as Town Green Circle, CSX Lane and Matthew Station Road. Any name chosen by the Board will be submitted for final approval to the Mecklenburg County Building Standards to ensure that there are no duplications or closely match existing street names.

Approval to the Mecklenburg County building standards to ensure that there are no duplications or closely match existing street names.

Also under consideration is the naming of two alleys currently included in the master plan. Lat Purser and Associates, the developer for Matthew Station, Wednesday I have the first building finished by the end of May. As was dictated by previous official action, the Board expects to finalize the sale of land to Lat Purser and Associates in the appraised amount of $503,000 in very near future. The town has mandated that the original depot Building, which is currently housing the Cactus Rose restaurant, will be salvaged and moved out of his way to eventually be utilized along with the caboose.

Matthews United Methodist Church requested yet another deferral for their variance request (Petition 369) citing the interruption of ongoing progress on the project because of vacations and the like linked to the holiday season.

Mayor Pro-Tem Martha W. Krauss said, “I respectfully suggest that the petitioners wait until March so that yet another deferral won’t be needed.”

The church’s spokesperson in attendance said they remain optimistic that everything will be in order for the February 12 Board meeting and subsequently for the closing schedule for February 15.

Commissioner Paul F. Bailey said, “My feeling is to grant deferral until February. I don’t have a problem with granting a third deferral to March if that’s what’s needed at that time,” after which he made the motion to defer, which was quickly seconded and passed.  

In other business Commissioners:

  • Approved Petition 371 amending the text of the Zoning Code regarding CrC District to include single family attached dwellings within the permitted uses.

  • Approved the changing of street types in the Downtown area.

  • Approved minutes from the December 11, 2000 meeting.

  • Adopted a resolution of intent to consider annexation.

  • Approved budget ordinance amendment for controlled substance tax revenues.

  • Approved Sonitrol contract.

  • Released funds for Matthews-Morningstar and Idlewild Volunteer Fire Departments.

  • Accepted Zoning Petitions: 372- Sleep Inn, sign revisions, 373- The Crosland Group, text change to add tire installation as permitted in the B-1 district for retail facilities over 145,000 square feet, and 374- Kahn Development Company, Sam Newell and Matthews Township Parkway, from B-1 to B-1 (CD) and R-VS and set public hearings on February 12, 2001.

  • Approved street type classifications for public ways.

  • Discussed 2001 Planning Conference.

The next Board of Commissioners Meeting will be held on Monday, January 22 at 7 pm. Anyone wishing to address the Board on any subject may do so during the miscellaneous portion by signing up prior to the meeting by calling 847-4477, or by signing the roster at the entrance immediately before commencement of the meeting.