Morning Minute: Monday, April 29, 2019

News About Town: If you use Weddington Road between Fincher Farm and Winterbrooke regularly, make sure to plan alternate routes for the week. Today through Friday (Monday, April 29th through Friday, May 3rd) Blythe Construction will be working on Weddington from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Through travel will be limited to one lane at times so delays are expected.

News Around Town: The Silver Line often feels like a distant dream, but after last Wednesday’s Metropolitan Transit Commission meeting, the project is a baby step closer to the design process. The MTC voted to approve the 2020 Fiscal Year operating budget, which includes millions in additional funding to advance the Silver Line. The $1.7 billion project will be funded through local, state, and federal dollars. In late 2018 the Federal Transit Authority awarded CATS a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning grant for $920,000.

One Fun Thing: Hey naturalists! The Charlotte Metro area (at the time of writing) has 3,547 posts, 741 species, and 184 participants in the City Nature Challenge. According to the app, several participants are in Matthews. The most active areas for reporting are the downtown area and Idlewild Road Park. Today is the last day to participate before the final numbers are tallied.

#FiveForFriday: A Morning Minute News Round Up

This #FiveForFriday Morning Minute News Round Up is for the week of March 11 through March 15, 2019.

News About Town {updated}: Matthews police have identified the body found on East John St. as Mr. Shawn Antonio Horton (DOB – 07/14/1972) of Charlotte, NC. His body was found in a ditch on the 1800 block of E. John Street (the outer side of John St. past I-485). A damaged silver and purple Huffy bicycle was found nearby. The victim seems to have died several weeks ago. As police piece together Mr. Horton’s last few days, they’re asking for tips and leads. If you have any, call Matthews Police Department at 704-847-5555.

News About Town: Last night’s council meeting, in the absence of Mayor Paul Bailey, was led by Mayor Pro Tem John Higdon. It was a rapidly moving meeting with lots of Town business covered, though perhaps most surprising was regarding the recent land-clearing on Monroe Road for Residences Galleria, a 250-unit apartment complex to be built across from Family Dollar. During the rezoning process, the developer and nearby residents agreed upon specific areas for tree save. This week as land clearing began, approximately 200 trees marked to be saved were cut down. Taft Development Group is facing a $50,000 zoning violation fine from the Town and will pay a self-imposed fine of $100,000 in addition. Taft will also plant trees approximately 6-inches in diameter when construction is complete to repopulate the tree save area.

News About Town: According to the Town website, the Trade Street widening at the culvert (where Trade forks off to Weddington and Pleasant Plains) is supposed to be complete this spring. At Monday night’s Council meeting, NCDOT representative Stuart Basham provided updates and a revised completion date. Currently, the contractor, Blythe Construction, has increased the size of the crew but is incurring liquidated damages of $1,000 per day. According to Stuart, the project is expected to be completed by Labor Day.

News About Town: During the NCDOT updates at the Monday Council meeting, some conversation centered on the John St. Widening. Even the Town has been formulating their own approach, NCDOT has continued moving forward with design from Matthews to Monroe. According to Mayor Bailey, NCDOT and the Town are on the same page to delay construction on the portion from I-485 to Trade. The part of John St from I-485 eastward will continue with design and ROW acquisition. Now the Town must present this preference to the CRTPO (the municipal governing body for Charlotte area transportation) to amend the official STIP (a scheduled list of funded transportation projects). It’s a bureaucratic process to change the NCDOT budget in order to delay the downtown Matthews section.

News About Town: Matthews residents have a new park option. The playground equipment at Rice Road Park, a 9.5 acre parcel at 2530 Rice Road, has been installed and is ready for play! The work recently finished, Phase I, included driveway access into the park, an on-site walking trail, one sidewalk connection from Rice Road into the park, playground facilities, parking lot, lighting, benches, and picnic tables, as well as landscaping. According to the Town’s Facebook page, Phase II of the park will include a picnic shelter, additional seating, and enhanced natural areas around the walking trail.

Morning Minute: December 27, 2018

News About Town: The Matthews Police Department is holding a community meeting to present a plan addressing traffic concerns for Elizabeth Lane Elementary. Stop by the school gymnasium on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 6:15 P.M. to hear their plans for increasing safety and efficiency during major traffic hours. During the mini-planning conference, the Board of Commissioners heard a presentation by the Town’s Transportation Department as well as the Police Department. Some solutions included having a dedicated School Resource Officer for the school as well as encouraging bus ridership.

News Around Town: Youth Shrine Bowls of the Carolinas’ annual Battle of the Borders is coming to the Sportsplex, 2425 Sports Parkway, this Saturday, December 29, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Youth Shrine Bowl Athletics of the Carolinas, a nonprofit, provides fifth to eighth graders who typically can’t afford sports programs the opportunity to participate in youth sports. After rigorous tryouts, coaches select players based on detailed analysis. While the program is free, participants must fundraise to participate in the bowl, with proceeds going to local children’s hospitals. Tickets are $20.

One Fun Thing: The Pizza Peel Matthews, 110 Matthews Station St , is throwing a New Year’s bash for the younger set. Kids will finally understand the fun of New Years with the Peel’s free buffet of cheese and pepperoni pizza, party favors, sparkling juice, and a countdown at noon. And for the parents? We don’t have to worry about grumpy kids who didn’t get enough sleep the night before! December 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

*Kids 12 and under, must be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian. Parents wanting pizza can have the regular weekday pizza buffet.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, December 4, 2018

News About Town: The sixth meeting of the John Street Working Group will be held on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:15 p.m. at Matthews Town Hall. The group will review the results of the survey, which included questions about the original plan, a desired plan, and the consensus design. The working group will also discuss possible next steps.

News Around Town: Way2GoClt, a project founded by Sustain Charlotte and now operating in partnership with Charlotte Area Transit System, rewards you for taking alternate modes of transportation to work. Rather than commuting, take the bus and sign onto Way2GoClt, log your mode of transportation and get points. Each time you log on and record your mode of travel (other than single-driver commuting) you earn points to trade in for rewards.

Why participate? Matthews residents consider traffic a problem and what’s better than a fun solution to a problem? In the 2017 Citizen Satisfaction Survey for Matthews, 62.1% of participants selected “Traffic” as one of the biggest issues in the future; down from 73.9% in 2015.

One Good Thing: If you’re looking for a way to give back to the community this year, area nonprofits and town agencies have you covered. Donate an unwrapped toy or gift suitable for kids up to age 18 to the Matthews Gives Back for the Holidays drive. Drop-off locations include: Matthews HELP Center, Matthews United Methodist Church Matthews Town Hall, Matthews Community Center Matthews Fire Department, and Matthews Police Department.