Morning Minute: Friday, November 8, 2019

News About Town: This Monday, the Mayor and Board of Commissioners will join Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235 in Stumptown Park to honor Veterans Day. The ceremony begins at 11 am and will include a presentation recognizing the Matthews Veteran of the Year. For Matthews veterans, the town website has local resources, and the Veterans Advisory Committee works tirelessly to ensure Matthews is inclusive and meets the needs of veterans. We, at the Beacon, thank you for your service.

News Around Town: Many businesses are offering extra discounts and freebies for veterans on Monday, November 11. Applebees, Golden Corral, IHOP, Texas Roadhouse, and Cici’s Pizza (among many others) are offering a free meal to veterans with an official ID. (Conditions vary, double-check before you go.) BJ’s Wholesale, Publix, Rack Room, Walgreens, and Home Depot have special discounts for veterans this Monday. Check the Department of Veteran Affairs’ list of discounts; we’ll keep an eye out for local businesses offering specials as well

One Good Thing: If you have a weekend of yard work planned, take a detour and stop by Town Hall (232 Matthews Station Street; 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday - Friday)* to pick up some paper yard waste bags. The large, extra-sturdy bags come in packs of ten, and you can pick two packs up for free. Using paper makes it easier for Compost Central to compost the yard waste because the bags and waste can go straight into the compost pile, rather than removing and throwing away plastic bags. *Bags are also available at Matthews Public Works, 1600 Tank Town Road, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Monday - Friday; the Community Center, 100 E. McDowell Street, 9:00 am - 8:00 pm Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Saturday, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm Sunday.

Morning Minute: Thursday, November 7, 2019

News About Town: If you see a particularly hairy looking male police officer around town, don’t worry, they’re not trying to nab criminals with their face Velcro. Matthews Police are participating in No Shave November by loosening official shave policy standards. to participate, each officer must donate $35 to Zero Cancer Foundation, a prostate cancer patient advocacy and public awareness group.

News Around Town: This past Monday, November 4, Matthews Animal Control caught a sick raccoon on the Four Mile Creek Greenway near East John Street. The raccoon tested positive for rabies. As of September (the most recent Mecklenburg Health Department report), there have been 11 confirmed animal cases of rabies. In 2018, there were 15 cases total.

One Fun Thing: Not sure what or where to recycle? Since Matthews recycling goes to a county facility, we must follow the county guidelines. Charlotte-Mecklenburg has created a relatively simple, but extremely informative game to teach you the what and where of recycling. Give it a try.

Don't Forget: Matthews Concert Band will open its 18th season on Thursday, November 7, at the Fullwood Theatre with "A Salute to France." Musical selections will carry you across the ocean in a trans-Atlantic audio odyssey of concert band sound. The performance starts at 7:30 pm.

Morning Minute: Wenesday, November 6, 2019

News About Town: Sigh of relief, everyone, the 2019 election cycle is finally over! John Higdon wins the mayoral race with 53.59% of the vote. Incumbent commissioners Jeff Miller, Barbara Dement, and John Urban won reelection. They’ll be joined on the dais by Larry Whitley, Dave Bland, and our own Renee Garner, who earned the highest number of votes among commissioner candidates. Congratulations to our new representatives!

Mayor-Elect John Higdon and Commissioners Renee Garner and Larry Whitley

News Around Town: Tired of campaign signs? Don’t get dumpster happy just yet. Candidates have seven days post-election to collect their signs. If you see signs out in remote areas of town, do the environment and the candidates a favor and send them an email to let them know the location. Most candidates reuse their signs from cycle to cycle.

Don't Forget: Matthews Concert Band will open its 18th season on Thursday, November 7, at the Fullwood Theatre with "A Salute to France." Musical selections will carry you across the ocean in a trans-Atlantic audio odyssey of concert band sound. The performance starts at 7:30 pm.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, November 5, 2019

News About Town: THE ELECTION IS TODAY! HAVE YOU VOTED?

News Around Town: The Matthews Heritage Museum has a new exhibit up: "The House With A Heart: 40 Years of the Matthews HELP Center" documents the past 40 years of good works by the HELP Center and will be on display until February 1, 2020. What started as an all-volunteer organization in the Massey-Clark House (home of the Matthews Heritage Museum), now employs a professional staff of 7 full-time and 6 part-time staff and over 240 volunteers.

The Matthews Heritage Museum is located at 232 N. Trade Street is open Thursday – Saturday from 10 to 4:30. Small admission charged. 

One Good Thing:  Anthony Carter Jr, the number 38 offensive guard in the country and 22nd-ranked prospect in North Carolina, from Butler High School is in talks with several prospects for college football. According to Carter, NC State, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Michigan State are all possibilities.

Don't Forget: Matthews Concert Band will open its 18th season on Thursday, November 7, at the Fullwood Theatre with "A Salute to France." Musical selections will carry you across the ocean in a trans-Atlantic audio odyssey of concert band sound. The performance starts at 7:30 pm.

Morning Minute: Monday, November 4, 2019

News About Town: Tickets for annual holiday festivities at the Community Center are already on sale and are moving fast. The Nutcracker runs Saturday, November 30 at 2 pm & 7 pm, and Sunday, December 1 at 3 pm (with the option to add on the Sugar Plum Party); Saturday, December 7at 2 pm & 7 pm; and Sunday, December 8: 3 pm (with the option to add on the Sugar Plum Party). Tickets for the always popular Breakfast with Santa are sold out, but you can add your name to the waiting list. 

Tickets can be purchased online, in person at the Matthews Community Center, or by calling 704-321-7275.

News Around Town: Election Tuesday! Go vote!

One Good Thing: Tonight, Monday, November 4, the Matthews Historical Foundation will host their 20th annual benefit for the foundation at Santé Restaurant (165 North Trade Street). Highlights include dinner by Santé owner, and renowned chef, Adam Reed, a cash bar, as well as silent and live auctions. Proceeds benefit the foundation, a local nonprofit whose mission is to care for the Reid House and brings Matthews history to life.

Don't Forget: Matthews Concert Band will open its 18th season on Thursday, November 7, at the Fullwood Theatre with "A Salute to France." Musical selections will carry you across the ocean in a trans-Atlantic audio odyssey of concert band sound. The performance starts at 7:30 pm.

Morning Minute: Friday, November 1, 2019

News Around Town: Interested in Town meetings but can’t make it? Now you can tune in. If you want to find meeting minutes, listen to the audio, and see agendas all on one page, find them here.

Handheld art by artist and Matthews-resident Donna Sappington available The Loyalist Market.

News Also Around Town: Newsweek recently compiled a comprehensive list of nursing homes across the US, based on reputation, performance data, health inspection scores, and more. Of the 15,000 nursing homes analyzed, 406 met a threshold score. Seven of those are in North Carolina, and one is in Matthews: Carrington Place ranked number seven in the best nursing homes in North Carolina. Congratulations Carrington Place, keep up the great work!

One Good Thing: The High Ridge Pickers will be at the Farmer’s Market this Saturday. Get there when the market opens at 8, get your shopping in, then settle in for some bluegrass, old-time, and gospel music. The farmers will have cool-season greens, summer staples, and an array of handmade goodies. Don’t forget to plan your Thanksgiving menu, hit the market, and pre-order baked goods and meats for the holiday table.

Morning Minute: Thursday, October 31, 2019

News Around Town: Is your neighborhood canceling Halloween? Moving it to another night? Everyone and their costumes weighed in on Halloween on social media yesterday and there’s no consensus. Brad Panovich weighed in. Check out NextDoor to find out what your neighborhood has planned.

Breakfast with Greater Matthews Habitat

News Also Around Town: It’s finally the holiday to kick off all other food-heavy holidays: Halloween. If you’d rather skip the candy-season, Smilebar has you covered. Smilebar (1819 Matthews Township Pkwy

Matthews), a locally-owned husband/wife dental office in Matthews Festival, has partnered with Operation Gratitude, and are collecting leftover Halloween candy. Intending to collect 50 pounds of candy (that’s a lot of dum dums), Smilebar will add handwritten notes and cards then ship the sweets to Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude will, in turn, distribute everything to troops overseas, local veterans, and first responders. You have a few days to eat your fill, Smilebar is collecting candy until 7 pm on November 5.

One Great Thing: Yesterday morning, Greater Matthews Habitat gathered in the main hall at Threshold Church to celebrate building safe, affordable housing in and around Matthews. Familiar faces of community members spoke during the event, including Pastor Chuck Wilson of Matthews United Methodist, and Natisha Rivera-Patrick, President of Greater Matthews Habitat. Gabriela, the pre-teen daughter of Habitat homeowners, spoke to the beauty of her family’s new home, her appreciation of having a yard to play in, and the joy of picking out her own bedroom.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, October 30, 2019

News About Town: Want to be a part of the process to form the future of Matthews? Apply to join the Planning Board or the Board of Adjustment. There are several vacancies and applications are now being accepted, through November 15. Interviews will be held the evening of Monday, November 25.

According to the Town website, “the Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial board that interprets town ordinances and policies for unique situations or special cases related to the town Zoning Ordinance.” Also, “the Matthews Planning Board has been created to advise the Matthews Town Board of Commissioners on land development issues from a citizen standpoint.”

Interested? Submit an application to Town Clerk Lori Canapinno.

News Around Town: Yesterday marked one year since the shooting of Bobby McKeithen at Butler High School. Principal John Legrand used the anniversary as a day to focus on kindness. From B Kind tee-shirts to leaving post-it notes around the school for encouragement, the day was centered around bringing the school together through uplifting messages while remembering the tragedy of last year.

One Fun Thing: Lace up your sneakers Saturday, November 9, 2019, for the Matthews PD’s  Gobble Wobble 5K. Entry fees will benefit Special Olympics of North Carolina and the nearly 40,000 athletes that train and compete in over 19 sports throughout NC. Pay your fee ($35 in advance, $40 the day of) and head on over to Colonel Francis Beatty Park, 4330 Weddington Rd. Matthews. Run, jog, or walk like your Thanksgiving depends on it.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, October 29, 2019

“The Matthews Beacon endorses John F. Higdon for Matthews’ Mayor. A three-term commissioner and current Mayor Pro Tem, Mr. Higdon is consistently responsive to the needs of constituents and brings honesty, humility, leadership, and intelligence to the board. ”

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Here at the Beacon, we have debated whether to make a public endorsement of the candidates running for office in 2019. The debate is over, and we have landed firmly on yes.

The Matthews Beacon endorses John F. Higdon for Matthews’ Mayor. A three-term commissioner and current Mayor Pro Tem, Mr. Higdon has demonstrated a clear understanding of the issues faced by our town. He is consistently responsive to the needs of constituents and brings honesty, humility, leadership, and intelligence to the board. Also, to date, there are no instances in which Mr. Higdon has used racial epithets in a public forum.

When the John Street widening threatened downtown Matthews, Mr. Higdon was the only commissioner who responded appropriately to citizen concerns. He worked with the leaders of Preserve Matthews to pursue alternative ideas for John Street and was instrumental in turning the Board against the project.

During the debate over town support of House Bill 514, Mr. Higdon opposed the measure from the beginning, citing well-researched complications in addition to concerns from Matthews’ parents. John has maintained a positive relationship with the CMS School Board and will make great strides in repairing the town’s relationship with CMS.

Prior to serving as a commissioner, Mr. Higdon served on the town’s Tree and Appearance Board. He has a long track record of caring for Matthews’ green space and will be a force for smart, sustainable development. It’s worth noting that no donations to Mr. Higdon’s mayoral campaign have come from developers.

Additional details about Mr. Higdon’s record on the issues are available on his website. His campaign finance records are available on the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections website.

Morning Minute: Monday, October 28, 2019

News About Town:  In November 2017, the Town Board asked staff to move forward with an entryway sign for the Idlewild roundabout (at Idlewild and 51). The sign was estimated to cost $85,000, with additional costs for landscape lighting; Mint Hill would pay for a portion of the costs. Soon after solidifying the design, NCDOT announced plans to remove the roundabout, widen Idlewild, and turn 51 into a superstreet. The sign project was put on hold while the Town decided what the best approach would be, including the idea of installing a removable sign on the roundabout. At tonight's council meeting, staff will present three options ranging from $11,000 to $60,000 in expected costs.

News Around Town: Yesterday marked the end of the five-day celebration of Diwali, the Hindu holiday, also known as the Festival of Lights. Diwali signifies the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Today, the first day following Diwali on the Hindu calendar is Annakut – literally meaning, a mountain of food. Annakut, the beginning of the Hindu New Year, is today. Want to celebrate? BAPS has day-long festivities lined up.

One Fun Thing: Matthews' best kept cultural secret, the Matthews Concert Band, will open its 18th season on Thursday, November 7, at the Fullwood Theatre with "A Salute to France." Musical selections will carry you across the ocean in a trans-Atlantic audio odyssey of concert band sound. Future concerts to remember are December 14 at Matthews United Methodist Church, and March 5, 2020, and May 21 in the Fullwood Theatre. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

Morning Minute: Friday, October 25, 2019

News Around Town:  Last night was the final candidate forum of the 2019 election season, held at Plantation Estates. There was a bit of a hubbub as the forum was closed to media and the public just hours before it began. WSOC News aired a story about Candidate Barbara Dement, who works for Plantation Estates. She made a short statement regarding two years worth of missing campaign finance reports. Several candidates spoke out about the lack of forum access for Matthews voters.

Early voting continues at the Matthews Library. To learn more about the candidates running, visit the Meck BOE for links to their websites.

One Fun Thing: Looking for something slightly less spooky than local election news? Head to the Matthews Library on Thursday, October 31st at 6:30 for fireside tales and fall themed puzzles. There will be free cider, hot chocolate, and cookies.

Bonus Bite: We’ve got two pairs of tickets to the Haunted Trail! Want to win? Comment on our Facebook post with your favorite Halloween costume idea. Bonus points if you include pics.

Morning Minute: Thursday, October 24, 2019

News About Town:  The dogs are back in town. Bloodhound Week is, in Beacon world, more exciting than the Superbowl and unfortunately ends today. The Matthews Police Department hosts the National Police Bloodhound Association K-9 training every fall with training throughout Matthews. More than 40 K-9 handlers and their bloodhounds participated, learning and perfecting tools of the trade.

News Around Town: Looking for an alternative to the neighborhood candy crawl that is trick or treating? Tomorrow, October 25, Matthews Township Shopping Center (1811 Matthews Township Parkway) is hosting a Costume & Candy Crawl. Stop by from 5 until 7 pm. Join Matthews Presbyterian on Sunday, October 27, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm for their annual event. Then, Wednesday, October 30, from 6 to 8 pm, Idlewild Baptist (12701 Idlewild Rd) is hosting a Fall Fest. In addition to games, crafts, and prizes, the church will host a Trunk or Treat.

One Good Thing: Free paper yard waste bags are available through the county at various recycling centers around Mecklenburg Co. Why paper? When you’re disposing of yard waste, the entire bag can go in the yard waste trucks, eliminating the step of emptying plastic bags. Although there’s not a recycling center with the bags in Matthews, head over to Hickory Grove to pick some up. If you don’t want to drive, they’re also available at Lowe’s and Target.

Bonus Bite: We’ve got two pairs of tickets to the Haunted Trail! Want to win? Comment on our Facebook post with your favorite Halloween costume idea. Bonus points if you include pics.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, October 23, 2019

News About Town:  Monday, the Matthews Police and Matthews Fire Department hosted their annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive at Stumptown Park. Nearly forty units of blood were donated during the six-hour event. Two bloodmobiles were onsite throughout the day; donors were given a special donor’s tee shirt and a VeloPop. The friendly competition ended with, according to social media, the Police ahead, taking home the title belt.

Photo via Matthews Police Facebook page

News Around Town: There’s one person in Matthews who likes Halloween more than Norah, and that’s Bob. (Everybody else take a number and get in line.) Need a little escape from the daily grind? Follow along with Bob’s spooky antics with the Instagram tag #bobshalloweenland. Make sure you follow Vincent Van Bones, too. Vincent is Matthews only Insta-famous skeleton with a penchant for pumpkin spice. Dem bones, dem bones, dem caffeinated bones.

One Good Thing: If you love to decorate gourds, this is your season to shine. Find a pumpkin and make it pretty, then take it to the Parks & Recreation Event Office (196-B South Trade Street, behind the Free Clinic in Stumptown Park) and enter the 2nd annual Halloween Pumpkin Contest. At this point we usually say something like, “Do your best, but don’t worry, it’s the effort that counts…” except it’s Halloween, and scary things like judgement happen. Just your pumpkin will be judged, though, and if you do a great job and win, you’ll get a gift card to a local Matthews business! Pumpkin drop-off times are October 25th from 9 am-6 pm, or October 26th from 10 am-4 pm. Judging will take place Saturday October 26th when the public will have the opportunity to vote at the Not-So-Spooky Halloween event.

Don’t Forget: Saturday, November 2, join the Matthews Appearance and Tree Advisory Committee at Squirrel Lake Park from 8-noon to pull invasive weeds and give the native flora a fighting chance. The event is open to all ages and is an excellent activity for families, schools, scout troops, and anybody else who likes the outdoors! Bring some gloves, a bottle of water (refills available at the park water fountain), and any tools you want to use. Questions? Contact Debbie at fostdebbie@gmail.com.

Bonus Bite: We’ve got two pairs of tickets to the Haunted Trail! Want to win? Comment on our Facebook post with your favorite Halloween costume idea. Bonus points if you include pics.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, October 22, 2019

For our readers celebrating Simchat Torah, “Chag Sameach!”

News About Town:  The leaves are falling, and with that comes some tidying up unless you want to leave them for the critters. Let this be your annual reminder for yard waste: the county has guidelines for yard waste curb collection. Please be courteous to neighbors and don’t block the sidewalk or street. If you can, bag leaves and smaller sticks in heavy-duty paper bags available specifically for yard waste. These bags can go straight into the composting piles at Compost Central, eliminating single-use plastic waste. Plastic bags should be clear, or the top must remain open so waste collectors can see the contents. Bags must weigh less than 50 pounds each, and there is a 20 bag limit per week per residence. Have branches trimmed shorter than 4 feet long and less than 5 inches thick — stack limbs in small piles for easy collection.

News Around Town: The 2019 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) rated Novant Matthews a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality. Leaders are service providers that received a perfect rating in a voluntary survey, which analyzed criteria such as sexual orientation and gender identity non-discrimination policies for patients and employees. Twelve of the 24 NC Leaders are Novant Hospitals. In total, 680 healthcare facilities actively participated in the HEI 2019 survey.

One Good Thing: Saturday, November 2, the Matthews Appearance and Tree Advisory Committee has an opportunity for you to use that upper body strength for more than curling pints. Join the group at Squirrel Lake Park from 8-noon to pull invasive weeds and give the native flora a fighting chance. The event is open to all ages and is an excellent activity for families, schools, scout troops, and anybody else who likes the outdoors! Bring some gloves, a bottle of water (refills available at the park water fountain), and any tools you want to use. Questions? Contact Debbie at fostdebbie@gmail.com.

Bonus Bite: We’ve got two pairs of tickets to the Haunted Trail! Want to win? Comment on our Facebook post with your favorite Halloween costume idea. Bonus points if you include pics.

Morning Minute: Monday, October 21, 2019

News About Town: This past Monday, October 14, 79-year-old pedestrian Vira Hryhorniva Nahorna was struck by a car in a hit-and-run in the Aldi parking lot. Vira later died from the injuries she sustained. This past Friday, the Matthews Police Department announced charges against the driver. Fifty-four-year-old Sawan Alshabani of Charlotte, is charged with one (1) count of first-degree murder, two (2) counts of attempted first-degree murder, and two (2) counts of assault with a deadly weapon. According to investigators and witnesses, Alshabani intentionally struck Vira and allegedly attempted to strike four other people before leaving the scene of the incident.

News Around Town: It’s a popular season for big birthdays in Matthews! Not only is the HELP Center celebrating the big four-oh, but  Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity (GMHFH) is turning thirty. Since 1989, GMHFH has addressed the lack of affordable housing in the Matthews area to break the cycle of poverty. Matthews Habitat relies on volunteerism to build homes and provide affordable mortgages. Over the past 30 years, GMHFH has partnered with volunteers through St. Stephen United Methodist Church, Sardis Presbyterian Church, Pace Construction, and numerous individuals and organizations to build 108 homes. 
Wednesday, October 30, GMHFH will be holding their inaugural fundraising breakfast at Threshold Church (3501 Antioch Church Rd, Matthews 28104) from 8:30to 10:00 am. There is no cost , but RSVP is required (rsvp@habitatmatthews.org) by October 24.

One Fun Thing: Once again, Stumptown Park will be Not-So-Spooky for Halloween this Saturday, October 26, from 5 to 9 pm. Feel free to come out and not-be-scared at this free, family-friendly event. We are Not-So-Sure, as Curley the Clown is listed in the festivities. Geared towards kids 10 and under, there will be face painting, bounce houses, carriage rides, and snacks. And clowns. After trick-or-treating in the park, stay for the movie “The Haunted Mansion,” starting at approximately 7 pm. Feel free to dress up. (No pets, please.)