Morning Minute: Tuesday, July 23, 2019

News About Town: Mayor Paul Bailey, Mayor Pro Tem John Higdon, and Jason Majewski have filed for the Matthews mayor’s seat. With three candidates in the ring, there will be a primary on Tuesday, October 8. According to the State Board of Elections, "in a non-partisan election, if the number of candidates for the contest is greater than twice the number of seats to be elected, there will be a primary election. The primary will trim the number of candidates down to twice the number of seats." That said, Matthews will have elections once a month for the last quarter of 2019: September 10 (Congressional District 9), October 8 (Matthews Mayoral primary), and November 5 (Matthews Mayor and Board of Commissioners).

The proposed mural mural by Charlotte arts nonprofit Wall Poems

News Around Town: Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 24, Dilworth Coffee at Plantation Market (3016 Weddington Rd #600), is hosting a tasting event. Stop by the shop at 9 am to try samples of Honduran coffee, learn the stories behind the beans, and enjoy the flavor of this lesser-known, exciting source of coffee.

One Fun Thing: Kale Farms (3232 Kale Lane) is hosting their second Farmer’s Market pop-up this Saturday. Stop by the farm to grab some fresh veggies, learn about sustainable small-scale homesteading, and support local businesses. Saturday, July 27, 10 am - 2 pm.

Morning Minute: Monday, July 22, 2019

News About Town: Tonight’s Board of Commissioners meeting will be a busy one. Topics include allocating funds for the handrails on town hall, the tree replanting for the Taft development, adding part-time desk officers to the patrol unit to meet the needs of the police department, and an 11% pay increase for the Town Manager.

The proposed mural mural by Charlotte arts nonprofit Wall Poems

News Around Town: As planning for widening Idlewild progresses, Matthews is taking the opportunity to brainstorm access to Stevens Creek Nature Preserve. The preserve is a 281 acre a preserve in Mint Hill that abuts the Matthews boundary northeast of I-485 and Idlewild Road. Hear from the town and give input Thursday, July 25 from 4-7 p.m. at Poplin Elementary School (5627 Poplin Road Indian Trail, NC 28079). The event is also an NCDOT meeting to provide info on the widening and modifications of the existing I-485 interchange.

One Good Thing: Registration is open for Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church’s First Annual Leukemia/Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma 5k Walk/Run for the Cure. The event, in honor of Pastor Larry Whitley, begins at 9 am on September 21. Registration closes August 31. Participants are asked to wear orange during the 5k to raise leukemia awareness.

Morning Minute: Friday, July 19, 2019

News About Town: In 2013 the town council approved a text amendment for the Unified Development Ordinance that created the current procedure for approving murals in Matthews. The amendment, created with the intent to have the Parks and Rec Advisory Committee approve public art, was unanimously approved by the commission, several of whom are current members (Paul Bailey, Jeff Miller, Kress Query, and John Urban). At the time Bailey clarified he, “doesn’t want the perception that the policy could be changed simply to avoid putting up a certain mural. He wants to be sure the language is defensible, and to do that everyone needs to know who is doing what throughout the approval process.”

Since that time, Park and Rec has installed seven murals and as many sculptures.

In May, after thirteen months of planning and coordinating, the Parks and Rec Advisory Committee was ready to move forward with the botanically themed design by Charlotte arts collective Wall Poems. The design includes a poem by NC farmer and Poet Laureate AR Ammons.

The agenda item was pulled from the May 28, 2019 council meeting at the beginning of the meeting. During public comment one Charlotte resident/Matthews business owner noted lack of public input on the project and felt the the design was inappropriate for the location.

This Monday, the board will receive information on a new process for public art approval. The agenda does not mention whether the new process will replace the 2013-3 Text Amendment.

The proposed mural mural by Charlotte arts nonprofit Wall Poems

News About Town II: Today is the last day to file for candidacy in Matthews. So far there are three mayoral candidates: Paul Bailey, John Higdon, and Jason Majewski. For commissioners: Ben Bash, Dave Bland, Allen Crosby, Barbara Dement, Renee Garner, Gina Hoover, Ken McCool, Jeff Miller, Mark Tofano, John Urban, and Larry Whitley have filed.

News About Town (Amended): In yesterday’s morning minute we incorrectly stated "Blythe Construction" is working on the Trade St. The contractor is Blythe Development.

One Good Thing: Need to get out of the house for some grown up time tonight? Charlotte Allstars Gymnastics (11011 Monroe Rd, Matthews) is hosting open gym tonight fro 6 to 9 pm. Drop the kids off and go find something fun to do (or sit and stare off into space and enjoy the quiet?) while they bounce, tumble, and fill their bellies with pizza. The cost of $20 ($15 for members) is less than that of a babysitter. Time to hit the clubs.

Morning Minute: Thursday, July 18, 2019

News About Town: For those anxious for the Trade Street construction to be complete…womp womp. NCDOT announced further delays on the project and anticipates it will be complete by late fall or winter. Blythe Development, the contractor, is already past the contract completion date, and is accruing damages assessed at $1,000 per day.

**Correction: In this morning's minute we incorrectly stated "Blythe Construction" is working on the Trade St. The contractor is Blythe Development.

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News Around Town: The Matthews Community Farmer’s Market is taking another step toward inclusive community by becoming licensed with Food and Nutrition Services. This license, provided with assistance and equipment from Mecklenburg Public Health Department, paved the way for the market to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

Customers swipe their EBT card in the Community House and will receive tokens which may be spent on eligible food items with participating vendors.

The market is exploring ways to stretch SNAP benefits with a dollar matching sponsorship.

One Good Thing: The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs want you to Look Before You Lock. On average 38 children die annually from being left in hot cars. As the weather reaches the mid to upper 90s, a car parked in the sun can easily reach 150 degrees or hotter. The sheriffs have. Couple of tips to remember to look in your backseat (see above), like opening the back door every time you park. If you’re out and about and see a child or pet locked in a hot car, don’t hesitate to call 911.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, July 17, 2019

News About Town: Next Monday you’ll have another chance to give input on the tree design for Proximity Matthews (the clear-cut trees on Monroe Road). Council heard from the developer at the July 8 meeting but felt the public should have more input in the process. Monday, July 23, is your chance to let them know if the new design is:

REASONABLE: The request only makes a modification to the landscape while retaining the overall site layout and architectural theme thus the request is reasonable. The general look and feel of the interior site will remain unchanged from the original proposal.

or

NOT REASONABLE: The amendment is not reasonable and represents a reduction of the quality of the landscape that was committed to when the site was approved for rezoning. The changes adversely impact the overall appearance and are not representative of what was depicted to citizens, staff and Council.

News About Town Part II: According to the Mecklenburg Board of Elections website, the Matthews Board of Commissioners race has one more candidate and one less. Gina Hoover has filed to run, and Kress Query is no longer listed. Filing closes on July 19.  

One Good Thing: It’s almost time for the Matthews Police Department’s annual National Night Out. Once again the event will be held on the Town Green (232 Matthews Station St.), this year on Tuesday, August 6, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The event is a great time to meet neighbors, learn about crime prevention, and deepen alliances with Matthews police. Neighborhood HOAs are invited to host a table, but the deadline to apply is today.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, July 16, 2019

News About Town: Matthews Police Officer Calvin Young served over 20 years as a School Resource Officer when he responded to the shooting at Butler High School in 2018. This year he’s being honored as the 2019 C.C. McGee, North Carolina, School Resource Officer of the Year. The award, named after Assistant Sheriff C. C. McGee of Forsyth County, recognizes SROs who have made outstanding contributions to their school and community. Congratulations Officer Young!

News Around Town: If you missed the Farmer's Market (or made it but have already chowed down on the deliciousness), Renfrow Farms Farmstand opens again today. After a year off, they're reopening the West Charles Street gate from 10 until noon. Plan on grabbing homegrown veggies and fresh flowers for a full summertime treat. As always, if you miss the farmstand, you can pick up some locally grown goodness at Renfrow's Wednesday through Saturday. 409 W Charles St, Matthews.

One Good Thing: This Saturday, July 20, Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity will break ground on their newest Faith [BUILD], a program where local congregations partner with Habitat to build a safe, healthy, and reasonably priced home. Join Habitat at 3527 Dion Drive, in Matthews from 10 til 11 am to kickstart the process for one local family’s future home.

Morning Minute: Monday, July 15, 2019

News About Town: Recently, Matthews Park and Rec finished rehabbing the main playground at Baucom Park (601 Sadie Drive) in Pine Forest. The new equipment consists of climbing structures and a slide, expanding play options from the previous structure. The town budgeted $1,000 for these improvements.

News Around Town (and One Good Thing): Last week, on July 10, a Jewish Matthews family found that their truck had been vandalized. Someone had etched a swastika into the truck. Concerned neighbor, Ann-Margret Gidley, started a GoFundMe campaign to cover the expenses of fixing the truck as well as to buy security cameras for the family. On the site, she states, “This campaign aims to reassure this family that they are welcome in their own town and to show them that there is more good than evil in our community.” After two days live, nearly 50 people from all over the country have contributed to the fundraiser, exceeding the original goal. Monies raised beyond the need will be donated to the AntiDefamation League.

Morning Minute: Friday, July 12, 2019

News About Town: There are a handful of projects in the works for downtown Matthews, and the Board was presented with updates at Monday’s meeting. The projects include the Downtown Mobility Plan, the Trade St. Streetscape Design, and an Intersection Improvement for Matthews Station Street and North Trade Street. Next month the board will receive a presentation by Alta Design for the Matthews Station/Trade St. improvements. In November of this year The Board will receive an update on the downtown mobility study, which covers parking, pedestrian and multi-modal access and safety. The Streetscape Design, a “curb to building” examination and plan, will create a cohesive design for sidewalks and landscaping stretching Trade St. to improve aesthetics. The design is expected to be presented to the board in May 2020.

News Around Town: Are you a karaoke king or soprano señorita? Matthews Alive is looking for someone to sing the National Anthem this year. Submit your video on Facebook and a small panel of judges will narrow the group to five semi-finalists. The winner will be chosen by a poll on social media.

One Good Thing: 101 Dalmatians is coming up at Matthews Playhouse, and we’ve got tickets! Want to see the show?Head over to our Facebook page and comment on the giveaway post with your favorite Disney villain. The winner will be randomly selected from the entries.

Morning Minute: Thursday, July 11, 2019

News About Town: The Monroe Road tree issue has been extended for a while longer. At Monday’s Board meeting, the Commissioners voted to extend their decision two weeks so the public can have time to learn about Taft’s new design and have the opportunity to speak on it. To approve the new landscape design, the Board must decide either the plan is Reasonable or Not Reasonable, as defined below.

Reasonable: The request only makes a modification to the landscape while retaining the overall site layout and architectural theme thus the request is reasonable. The general look and feel of the interior site will remain unchanged from the original proposal.

Not Reasonable: The amendment is not reasonable and represents a reduction of the quality of the landscape that was committed to when the site was approved for rezoning. The changes adversely impact the overall appearance and are not representative of what was depicted to citizens, staff and Council.

To submit your comments, email the board or speak at the July 22 Council Meeting at Town Hall (7 pm).

Two Fun Things: This Saturday, July 13, Tummas Dance Group is hosting an English Country Dance at Matthews Orthodox Presbyterian (2701 Rice Rd, Matthews). While it may sound a bit like they’re serving scones at a rodeo, English Country Dance is, according to Norah, social dances they used to do at fancy balls and assemblies in Ye Olden Times. Put on your dancin’ shoes and head over to the church for a fun time and a little bit of living history from 7 until 9 pm.

Things are getting wild at the library tonight with the Wild Words Poetry Workshop. From 6 to 7 pm, bards, poets, and lovers of verse will meet in the Matthews library Community Room to read, write, and discuss all things poetry. Bring your own work or stop by to enjoy the prose of others.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, July 10, 2019

News About Town: At Monday's council meeting, Dr. Clayton Wilcox, Superintendent for CMS, spoke to the board about the mobile units at Elizabeth Lane Elementary. Usually, the sunset clause is renewed annually. This year interim planning director Jay Camp suggested the board extend the provision for three or four years with hopes that in four years the Lansdowne relief school should be complete. The conversation switched quickly and amicably to traffic patterns around the school during the afternoon let out. Tensions arose when Commissioner Kress Query brought up adding video cameras to the modules, a suggestion he’s made in the past. Dr. Wilcox explained the redundancies of adding a system by the town but conceded CMS would cooperate if doing so would please the board.

News Around Town: On July 5 Animal Control was called to Novant Matthews (1500 Matthews Township Pkwy) regarding an aggressive cat. The grey, medium-sized six months old kitten, had, in fact, bitten two people. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Animal Care & Control apprehended the cat and took it for testing. The tests came back positive for rabies. If you’ve been in contact with any cats in the hospital area, the Matthews Police Department urges you to contact the Mecklenburg County Health Department immediately at 704-614-6512 or 704-589-3242.

One Good Thing: Pro Active Chiropractic (300 East John St. Suite 130) is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross this Friday, July 12, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Register online at redcrossblood.org and enter the Sponsor code “ProActive.”

Morning Minute: Tuesday, July 9, 2019

News About Town: With the widening of Independence/74 come all sorts of changes to Matthews. Sam Newell will be changed to a bridge over 74, strategically adding multiuse paths and sidewalks to increase accessibility from the northern portion of town to the south. As part of the larger vision, multi-use paths will run the length of Sam Newell, adding pedestrian accessibility to Crown Point Elementary. The project was partially funded within the Capital Improvement Plan. At last night's meeting, the Board of Commissioners discussed funding the remaining amount through grants.

Updating the roster for Town Council, candidate Ken McCool filed on Monday.

News Around Town: Barbara Taylor, Director of the Matthews Heritage Museum, is hosting a Director's Tour of Tank Town: A Good Place to Live, on Saturday, July 20, at 11 am. Space is limited to 12 people, and is best suited for kids over 10 and adults. Admission is $4 and proceeds go toward a new display case for the museum. Want to go? Call the museum (704-708-4996) and leave a message. They’ll call you back and confirm your spot.

One Fun Thing: Carolina Financial Partners, A Matthews Beacon sponsor, is celebrating 35 years in business! If you haven't already, check out their resource center for information on all sorts of topics. The Lifestyle section is particularly helpful for families balancing budget and fun.

Morning Minute: Monday, July 8 2019

News About Town: Filing began on Friday for the 2019 municipal elections. It was a busy day at the Board of Elections office with candidates from all over Mecklenburg county getting a jump start on election season, including 10 candidates from Matthews. Officially in the race for Matthews Mayor are incumbent Paul Bailey and current Mayor Pro Tem John Higdon. Thus far 8 people have filed for Board of Commissioners (Town Council), they are Dave Bland, Allen Crosby, Barbara Dement, Renee Garner, Jeff Miller, Kress Query, Mark Tofano, and John Urban.

*Editor’s Note: You may notice a certain Beacon co-founder and editor in chief on the list of commissioner candidates. We are immensely proud of Renee for throwing her hat in the ring in the hope of serving the community in yet another capacity. Our personal biases acknowledged we are committed as a news source to covering the election in as factual and unbiased a manner as possible. Our goal is as it has always been: to inform and educate the people of Matthews.

News Around Town: The Matthews Fire & EMS Department had a busy Fourth of July. During the storm early on the fourth, strong winds brought down trees. Several cars were totaled in the Paces Pointe apartment parking lot. Later that night, police noticed smoke coming from a law office on Senna Drive and called the fire department. Matthews, Idlewild, and Mint Hill departments worked together to put out the fire.

One Fun Thing: Ready for a day of art? This Sunday (July 14, 2-4 pm) head over to McDowell Arts Center to learn how to use alcohol inks, a popular new material that looks like really vibrant watercolors. The registration fee ($20 residents. $25 non residents) covers all supplies. After painting, head upstairs in the gallery, for the reception and viewing of the Waxhaw Arts Council exhibit.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, July 3, 2019

News About Town: The town will have rezoning hearings at the July 8, 7 pm meeting, including a hearing for the East John St. warehouse. The warehouse owner, Stronghaven, has applied for a conditional rezoning rather than the town-initiated downzoning. The conditional zoning would, according to Stronghaven, eliminate some of the uses generally permitted in the Industrial-1 District in order to allay fears by the Board of how the property may be used in the future.

Image via Unsplashd

One Good Thing: Don’t mind a little dirt under your nails? HAWK needs your help this Sunday at 9 am. The group tends the gardens at Squirrel Lake Park (1631 Pleasant Plains Rd.), and they’ve gotten a little behind on weeding. Bring gloves, tools, water, and lather up on the sunscreen then wrestle back the nutsedge, goldenrod, and whatever else is plotting to take over the park.

One Good Thing Deserves Another: We’re going to take the next few days off to be with our families and celebrate Independence Day. We have a couple articles scheduled, so check back in. Above and beyond all else, have a happy and safe Fourth!

Morning Minute: Monday, July 1, 2019

News About Town: Planning your Fourth? Matthews is holding the annual Fun Family 4th of July, starting with the People's Parade at 5:30 at Town Hall and wrapping up in Stumptown Park with music by Too Much Sylvia. Participate in the parade by bike, scooter, wagon, or walking, and make your way over to Stumptown Park for food trucks and music. Bust out your fave festive garb for this event! The food trucks will arrive at 5, so if you skip the parade you just might also get to skip the long lines. July 4, 5 pm - 9 pm at Stumptown Park; parade starting at Town Hall at 5:30 pm.

News Around Town: Renfrow's is closed for a family vacation this week through July 9. If you're in need of tomato plants and chicken food, you’ll have to make other plans. The store will reopen July 10 and they expect to have the first of Renfrow Farms tomatoes for sale. Get your Dukes and Wonderbread ready.

One Fun Thing: If you're one to wake up early on a holiday and hop on a bike for 52 miles, then we've got just the thing for you: Mojo Cycles' (105 W Charles St, Matthews) annual Independence Day ride. Head out from Mojo Cycles at 8 am for a 52- or 30-mile loop and end up back at the bike shop for grilled hot-dogs and beverages of your choice. If you go for the 52-miler, you'll stop at Polk Mountain Store in Unionville for snacks, shade, and cold drinks. A police escort will help the group get across 74 safely. Registration is free.

Morning Minute: Friday, June 28, 2019

News About Town: Yesterday the town, in conjunction with Alta Design, took downtown business owners on a walk around the area to look at the traffic, parking, and general mobility of the town. About a dozen stakeholders participated, providing firsthand commentary by those who use the streets daily for work. The conversation covered everything from ADA accessible parking spaces and wheelchair access, employee parking, and exceeding two- and three-hour time limits. The input will be compiled as part of Alta’s downtown mobility study. Recommendations for improvements are expected by fall.

News Around Town: The 2019/20 Matthews Welcome Guide is out. Created by The Biz Well Corporation, Matthews Chamber, Red Brick Partnership, and the Town of Matthews, you’ll see lots of familiar names and faces but will also learn something new about Matthews. Check it out and pick up a copy in Town Hall or the chamber offices (in the train depot).

One Fun Thing: Shut down the screens and get your teenagers (12-18-year-olds) to the Matthews Library tomorrow to see Mr. Bigley. Al is an award-winning illustrator who has worked for all the big names: Golden Books, DC Comics, Disney, Marvel Comics, Scholastic, and more. He’ll talk about his career and technique, and then participants will get to do some drawing of their own. Make sure you register in advance. Saturday, June 29, 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St.