Morning Minute: Tuesday, April 27, 2021

News About Town: As of May 3, the Town of Matthews today will have a new finance director: Teresa Fulk. Ms. Fulk has worked in municipal finance for the past 12 years, and finance-related fields prior. She comes to Matthews via the Town of Newport, NC and Carteret County before that. According to the town website, Ms. Fulk has a B.A. in Accounting from Winston-Salem State University. and is a certified Local Government Finance Officer, a certified Budget & Evaluation Officer, and a certified Local Government Purchasing Officer.

News Around Town: The Matthews Heritage Museum will receive a “Preserving and Sharing Community Histories Online” consultation from the State Archives of North Carolina in 2021. Through the State Archives’ Traveling Archivist Program, a portion of the Dr. Henry V. Massey collection will be organized and digitized. Containing over 700 documents and 70 letters, the Dr. Henry V. Massey Collection was given to the Museum by Dr. Massey’s great-great grandchildren.

The Massey-Clark House serves as the home for the Matthews Heritage Museum.

One Good Thing: The Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Department has extended the Call for Artists deadline for the Crestdale Heritage Trail Street Mural to Monday, May 3, 2021. ToMPRCRD seeks an artist to create a mural inspired by the historic Crestdale community. Implementation will be a collaborative process with community members involved. Find out further details here.

Morning Minute: Friday, April 23, 2021

News About Town: The Town of Matthews has several job openings:

• Grounds Maintenance Worker: Hiring Range: $33,373 - $42,550, Salary Range: $33,373 - $51,728. This person performs routine unskilled and semi-skilled work in the maintenance, landscape and care of Town grounds, rights-of-way, and related Town property.

• Special Events Team Member: Part-time; $10 an hour. This person works for the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department by working with the general public, assisting the recreation staff at events, programs, concerts, assisting with the maintenance and safety of parks and/or community center, and other related activities as required.

• Police Officer: Hiring Range: $40,564 - $51,719, Salary Range: $40,564 - $62,875. With our ultimate goal of keeping Matthews safe, The Matthews Police Department is dedicated to attracting, recruiting, training and developing employees who meet and maintain the department’s strong hiring standards.

News Around Town: It’s time to choose your own Parks and Rec summer camp adventure . With a full array of camps for kids and relatively affordable tuition, these camps fill up fast. A few favorites won’t be happening this year (we’ll miss you, Muggsy), but there are so many other really cool options. Themes include fiber arts, printmaking, Legos, and STEAM—there’s something for every interest. See the brochure for more information.

One Good Thing: Save some cash, and give back to the community when you shop Fullwood Market this Sunday, April 25. 10% of your purchase dollars will be donated to the Matthews HELP Center.

Morning Minute: Thursday, April 22, 2021

Happy Earth Day!

News About Town: The Monday, April 26 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The Board will meet via Zoom (link here, meeting ID 910 4857 8544). To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter the meeting ID 910 4857 8544. A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

During the 6:30 pm closed session, the Board will meet with Town Attorney Charles Buckley. Closed sessions are limited by state legislation regarding which topics are acceptable in G.S. 143-318.11.

Items of note during the regular 7 pm meeting include:

• Consider Exemption from Qualification-Based Selection Process for Design Work for 335 East Matthews Street.

• FHWA Request for Experiment for Advisory Shoulder on Matthews Chapel Road.

• Consider Town Takeover of Maintenance for East McDowell Street and Overcash Drive.

News Around Town: Some estimates say dog adoptions increased twofold during the pandemic. For those late to the game, Mac’s Speed Shop (142 East John St) has what the (pet) doctor ordered: Bark & Brew Pet Adoption Day. In honor of National Pet Adoption Day, South Charlotte Dog Rescue will bring a few eligible pups to Mac’s from 5 -8 pm on Friday, April 30th. Get ahead of the curve by filling out an adoption application here.

One Good Thing: Matthews Police Chief Clark Pennington wrote a thoughtful response to the Derek Chauvin trial. Read it here.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, April 21, 2021

News About Town: Free Shred Day is coming up this Saturday, April 24 from 9 am to noon in the back parking lot of First Baptist Church, 185 South Trade St. The Town of Matthews and Record Storage Systems are hosting this FREE document shredding event with COVID safety in mind. Place bags/bank boxes (limit 4) of papers in the trunk of your car then head on over to the Baptist Church. Remain in your vehicle while shredding staff unloads your documents and you can be on your way while your papers are shredded under HIPAA-compliant security measures. Only paper (paperclips and staples are ok) is allowed. A Certificate of Destruction will be provided to you.

Photo by Mabel

News Around Town: In honor of Earth Day, your local tree-hugging Habitat and Wildlife Keepers* want you to open your arms even wider and give the Earth a big hug! You, too, can “Hug the Earth” by going to HAWKncwf.org and printing an activity form to complete. On Saturday, April 24, stop by the HAWK table at Squirrel Lake Park, 1631 Pleasant Plains Rd, between 11 am and 1 pm for a prize!
*We <3 tree-huggers, BTW.

One Good Thing: SHOUT! Charlotte is an obviously Charlotte-centric event, but that doesn’t mean Matthews creatives can’t benefit. Festival planners have an open call for singers, dancers, musicians, visual artists, chefs, and more to round out the SHOUT! 2021 experience. View the full information packet and application process here. Have questions? The organizers are hosting info sessions according to area of focus:

• Music: Thursday, April 22, 10 – 11 am 

• Food and Ideas: Thursday, April 29, 10 – 11 am

• Art: Thursday, May 6, 6 - 7 pm

• Music: Thursday, May 13, 11 am – 12 pm 

Morning Minute: Tuesday, April 20, 2021

News Around Town: Earth Day is later this week (Thursday, the 22nd) but Mecklenburg County is celebrating all month long. Print the Restore Our Earth Passport and further connect with nature through planned activities you can do around the county. Some of the fun includes strolling on a Greenway, participating in a clean up, and watching wildlife at a nature preserve. Complete five activities then stop by a prize giveaway site for a prize! The closest one is just across the town border in Mint Hill at Stevens Creek Nature Center (15700 Thompson Rd., Mint Hill).

News Around Town, Pt II: Approximately half of eligible adults in the US have received at least one COVID vaccination shot. If you’ve been looking for your own Fauci Ouchie, Matthews United Methodist, 801 South Trade Street, is hosting a clinic on Monday, April 26. Held in partnership with Vax Van, registration is needed for an appointment (age 16 and over). Thanks for the tip, Shannon!

One Good Thing: Applications for the 2021 Mary Doctor Performing Arts Scholarship are being accepted now through April 25 for high school seniors in the Charlotte region. The $10,000 annually renewable award is awarded to up to two students with a demonstrated ability in the performing arts to pursue an undergraduate degree in a related field.

Morning Minute: Friday, April 16, 2021

News About Town: Recently a new scam has reared its ugly head and Matthews residents have been victims. The Matthews Police Department wants you to be on alert where fraudsters open a checking account in your name at PNC Bank. How do you know? You’ll receive a debit card in the mail from PNC. Although the scam has, thus far, been limited to PNC Bank recently, be on the lookout for any suspicious activity regarding any financial institutions. The police also suggest you:

• Open all junk mail, especially from PNC Bank.

• Closely monitor your banking accounts with notification alerts set.

• Sign up for a credit monitoring service so that you will be immediately notified when a line of credit or account is applied for in your name.

• Notify your bank ASAP if you detect any suspicious activity.

• Notify police ASAP if you detect any suspicious activity.

News Around Town: Restaurants are feeling relief as the COVID vaccine becomes more accessible. With the Governor’s latest Executive Order they are open at 75% capacity and must adhere to required social distancing & masks. With the new order come new job opportunities here in Matthews.

Grace O’Malley’s has openings for servers, bartenders, hosts, and bussers/food runners.

Jekyll and Hyde have online listings for servers and line cooks.

The Loyalist is hiring a weekday, midday dishwasher to work Tuesday through Friday from noon to 4pm.

Portrait Gallery is hiring kitchen staff, servers, bussers, and bar staff. For more information, email info@pgmatthews.com or call 704-369-9982.

One Good Thing: The town wide litter sweep is tomorrow. Register to volunteer to spiffy up the streets of Matthews. Join your neighbors between 8 am and noon tomorrow, April 17 to “Keep Matthews Beautiful.” Some neighborhoods have organized groups, but the town will assign an area and give you supplies if you're not part of another organized effort.

Don’t Forget: The Matthews Chamber’s Week of Wellness starts today!

Morning Minute: Wednesday, April 14, 2021

News About Town: It’s budget season! Almost as much fun as pollen season, municipal budget season has Town of Matthews department heads itching to get important initiatives funded. The process has been ongoing with staff, and this Saturday the Board of Commissioners will begin the process of prioritizing funds for Town of Matthews’ operations.

According to the UNC School of Government, department heads must have their requests to the budget officer by April 30; in Matthews the budget officer is the town manager. The Board of Commissioners should have a recommended budget by June 1. The budget should be finalized to be enacted by July 1, when the 2021/22 Fiscal Year begins. Matthews generally begins the process with staff in February, bringing the budget before the Board in April, followed by budget workshops in May and possibly June. In June, a public hearing is held before finalizing the budget.

The Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Saturday, April 17 starting at 10:30 am at the Matthews Town Hall. A limited number of the public may attend the meeting in person and is required to wear a mask and follow social distancing protocols.

The meeting will be available via Zoom (meeting ID 938 0767 0308), the Town of Matthews YouTube channel, or listen live by calling 888-788-0099 (Toll Free) and entering meeting ID 938 0767 0308.

News Around Town: The Matthews Chamber is kicking of a hybrid Week of Wellness this Friday, April 16. Register online to receive access to online events and participate in Novant’s Bingo Challenge. Join in online cooking demos, virtual Tai Chi, or take a selfie on the greenway and tag #HLweekofwellness. A few in-person events are super tempting (we’re looking at you, CycleBar with socializing afterward). Each of these fun, healthy events will get you one block closer to BINGO while building healthier habits. Earn bingo and email proof to the Chamber to be entered for a chance to win a prize! See the full schedule here and register by clicking links on the bingo board.

One Good Thing: Bambino Buddy Ball is coming to MARA (Arthur Goodman Park) most Sundays between April 25 and June 6. This free program serves boys, girls, and young adults, ages 5-20*, living with special needs (mental and/or physical) that want to play organized non-competitive baseball. Players are paired with MARA volunteers to learn baseball skills, experience the thrill of team play, and enjoy camaraderie in a safe, loving, and fun environment. Learn more here!

Morning Minute: Tuesday, April 13, 2021

News About Town: At last night’s Board of Commissioners meeting, several planning items were presented.

The Godwin Homes project (2020-725) on Pleasant Plains had a continuation of their public hearing from March. The developer presented a new approach to the property: 10 single-family homes instead of 8 duplexes (16 units total), with a lower price point per unit. The project will go to the Planning Board and then back to the Board of Commissioners at the May 10 meeting. The new elevations are not yet on the town website but can be viewed on the YouTube recording starting at time stamp 1:13:15.

The Board also voted to not approve Zoning Application 2021-727/Greylock Ridge Townhomes. The plans consisted of 75 townhomes, 11 of which would be priced at 60% Matthews annual median income ($1,100). The Board was split in a tie with three commissioners voting for the project (Bland, Miller, Whitley) and three commissioners voting against (Garner, Higdon, McCool). With a tied vote, the determination is determined not to pass. Commissioner John Urban served as a consultant to the developer and recused himself from voting.

News Around Town: Even though we’re a full year into a pandemic, recognizing milestones is still new-ish territory. If you have kids graduating from fifth or eighth grades, Cotton Gin Printing can help. Cotton Gin has teamed up with the Matthews PTO and Crestdale PTO this year to offer personalized yard signs to celebrate graduates. Check them out for Crestdale and Matthews online.

One Fun Thing: Who doesn’t love a Good Cup? The hometown artisan coffee shop on wheels will be parked at Fullwood Market, 131 E John St B, this Wednesday (April 14) and Friday (April 16)! Stop by between 11 and 1pm either (or both) days for a handcrafted sip of delicious. Follow @GoodCup to find them each week.

Morning Minute: Monday, April 12, 2021

News About Town: The Monday, April 12 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The Board will meet via Zoom (link here, meeting ID 976 2258 0481). To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter the meeting ID 976 2258 0481. A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

A 6 pm meeting is scheduled to discuss Town-owned properties in the downtown area. At the regular 7 pm meeting, items of note include:

• A continuation of the Public Hearing for 2021-728 (duplexes by Godwin Homes on Pleasant Plains).

• A discussion about changing the minimum area required for MUD (Mixed use District).

• Consideration for the Locally Preferred Alignment for the Lynx Silver Line.

• Discussion of response to two Senate bills: SB 349/HB 401 (a bill that would eliminate municipal authority of zoning controls), and SB 455 (decriminalization of Town Ordinances).

News Around Town: According to the CDC, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects about 1 out of 54 children. Matthews Fire & EMS, in order to better serve residents on the spectrum, is now part of Community Connect. This partnership with county fire and EMS is an easily accessible, confidential, online form where households can provide critical information to first responders when caring for residents with ASD. Create an account here.

One Fun Thing: If we’ve learned anything during the pandemic, it’s that screens have their place—connecting people from all over the world to meet, socialize, and maintain connections. With the rising interest in Esports, a form of sport competition using video games, Mecklenburg County wants input on possible programming. Programming may take the form of both team and individual video game competitions. Take a quick survey here.

Morning Minute: Monday, March 29, 2021

News Around Town: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently announced that all 48 women’s teams and all 36 men’s Division 1 soccer teams will compete in North Carolina, and Matthews will host some of those games. Hosting games in one state will limit travel time, consolidating the usual length of the tournaments.

The championship tournaments, postponed from last fall, will be held in four athletic complexes: Bryan Park—Greensboro, J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex—Wilson, Sportsplex—Matthews, and WakeMed Soccer Park—Cary. The champions will be crowned at WakeMed Soccer Park. Attendance will be capped at 25% capacity.

All games will be held between April 27 and May 17. The tournament fields will be selected on April 19. First-round games for the women are April 27-28 while the men begin play on April 29.

News Around Town:   There’s a new exhibit on display at the Matthews Heritage Museum, 232 N. Trade St. North Carolina Pottery: A Tradition in Clay is on display until August 28. Covering the history and evolution of North Carolina’s internationally renowned pottery tradition, the display includes examples of utilitarian wares as well as decorative and pieces span from the 19th to 21st centuries. Showcased pottery represents styles of specific locales throughout NC, even some from Matthews’ own Outen Pottery.

The museum is open Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Adults are $4.00 per person, 10 to 17 years of age is $2.00 per, and under 10 are free. The first Saturday of every month entry is free. Masks are required. Museum visitors are limited to 5 at a time so reserve your spot (704-708-4996)!

One Good Thing: Want to support your local library? Plant a sign for Library Giving Day! Library Giving Day, April 7, is a one-day fundraising event in the middle of National Library Week. Use the day to show your appreciation and support by donating $15 to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Libraries. You’ll receive a thank you Bookmark the Town yard sign to “plant” at home. The library has a goal of 5,000 signs this year, so they need all hands on deck—errr—book? To support Library Giving Day without a yard sign, simply click the “donate” button here.

Morning Minute: Friday, March 26, 2021

News Around Town: The 2017 Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools bonds included funds for a relief school for Bain, Lebanon Road, and Piney Grove Elementary Schools. This past Monday, CMS Planning Services hosted an informational meeting about attendance boundaries. The new building will share a campus with Mint Hill Middle and will provide relief not only for Bain/Lebanon Road/Piney Grove, but also Crown Point, and, likely, Matthews Elementary. View the slides here and provide input through a survey here. The survey will remain open through Sunday, April 11. Look for more engagement sessions when CMS mid-April.

News Around Town: Matthews Mint Hill Toastmasters will resume in-person weekly meetings on Friday, April 16th at Blair Rd. United Methodist Church in Mint Hill from 12:30-1:30. Guests are welcome to join and learn about how Toastmasters can help improve their communication and leadership skills in a welcoming environment. Members will be social distancing and masking. For more information, email Vicki at vickijohns911@gmail.com. (Thanks for the tip, Kristen!)

One Good Job: Mason Jar Group, the owner of Grace O’Malley’s, is looking for awesome individuals for the Front of House Team at the popular Matthews restaurant. Servers, Bartenders, Hosts, Bussers/Food Runner positions available, apply here.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, March 24, 2021

News About Town: Outdoor concerts will begin again in Stumptown Park this April, on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. Space is limited to 350 individuals and will be tracked through ticket sales, which will be available through Matthewsfun.com two weeks before the concert. Tickets for the first concert, Late Night Special, go on sale March 29. Seating is marked by eight-foot circles on the lawn and gravel (with six feet between) to fit "pods" of two or four attendees. Concerts start at 6 pm (entry to the park opens at 5). On the lineup:

• April 9 - Late Night Special Band (Modern, Soulful Rock; tickets on sale March 29-April 9)

• April 23 - REO Speedway/Survivor Tribute Band (Cover Band; tickets on sale April 12-April 23)

• May 14 - Band of Oz (Carolina Beach Music; tickets on sale April 26-May 14)

• May 28 - Terrence Young Experience (Jazz Guitar; tickets on sale May 17-May 28)

News Around Town: Construction has begun on the up-fit of the Rite Aid building at the corner of Matthews Township and West John. The Keith Corporation purchased the former drug store in 2019 and is renovating it into medical offices. Most recently Tryon Medical used the site for COVID-19 testing. Elevations were approved as an Administrative Amendment by the Town Council in March 2020 and renderings of what the building will look like can be found here.

One Good Thing: Watch the State of the County address. County Commission Chair George Dunlap covers a wide range of local issues, from the impact of COVID to housing and food insecurity. Learn what lessons have been learned and what the future holds under Chairman Dunlap’s leadership.

Morning Minute: Monday, March 22, 2021

News About Town: One of the most exciting lines on the Monday Board of Commissioners agenda is line 11G: Consider Street Closures for Possible 2021 Special Events. The events depend on the Governor’s Orders and include: Matthews Fourth of July Family Parade (July 3), Matthews Alive (September 3-6), and the Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting Celebration (December 4).

Future peaches growing in Matthews

News Around Town: Seung and Bok Back, famously of Sam’s Shoe Repair and Dry Cleaners, have closed up shop to move to Atlanta. The shop had several homes within downtown Matthews through its 20-ish year run, most recently at 106 North Trade Street. Without a doubt, they will be missed. (Thank you, Pressly, for sharing this news.)

One Fun Thing: We mentioned a few days ago that the Town of Matthews will host a community-wide clean-up, "Keep Matthews Beautiful," on Saturday, April 17 from 8 to noon. Now’s your opportunity to join in the fun. Get a group of litter swatters together and clean up your neighborhood. If you want, the Town can assign you an area. The Town will also provide the necessary trash-picking accoutrements: trash bags, trash pickers, gloves, and safety vests. Sign up here.

Morning Minute: Thursday, March 18, 2021

News About Town: The Monday, March 8 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The Board will meet via Zoom (link here, meeting ID 964 0353 4859). To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter the meeting ID 964 0353 4859. A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

Items of note include two items involving Stumptown Park. First, Ralph Ramseur, Landscape Manager and Town Arborist will present an integrated turf management plan for the park, which will measure the effectiveness and cost of an organic maintenance approach. Then, the Board of Commissioners will consider naming options for the park with consideration of the addition to and refurbishment of the memorial area by Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235. Three different actions (yes/no votes) will determine the future name of the property surrounding the veterans memorials:

1. Rename Entire Park to Stumptown Veterans Memorial Park: The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Advisory Committee (PRaCRAC) and Matthews Veterans Advisory Committee (MVAC) have had several public hearings recently whether to add the words “Veterans Memorial” to the name Stumptown Park. The recommendation by the Advisory Committees was not to do this.

2. Designate a Veterans Memorial adjacent to Stumptown Park: After determining the name change was not recommended, a compromise was reached by both committees. This compromise is to have a Veterans Memorial area, which will be considered a pocket park adjacent to Stumptown Park.

3. Engage Landscape Architect to Design Veterans Memorial Pocket Park Delineations: The Town will hire a landscape architect to create a design that defines the Veterans Memorial Park area.

Image via Unsplash

News Around Town: As of March 11, 97% of the residents at Windsor Run are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. CVS provided on-campus vaccinations for residents of the Erickson development. Executive Director George Comfort stated, “I’m proud of the exceptional results we have achieved by working together – and I’m thrilled that so many of our residents now have an additional level of protection against COVID-19.”
Residents, staff and visitors continue to follow the Three Ws to maintain safety on the Windsor Run campus.

One Good Thing: Speaking of vaccinations, the County now has the Johnson &Johnson COVID Vaccine specifically earmarked for county residents unable to leave their homes. More information, including a link to the request form, can be found here. {Thanks for the great tip, John!}

Morning Minute: Wednesday, March 17, 2021

News About Town: The Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Department (ToMPRCRD <—-let’s go ahead and pronounce that Tom PreCard) seeks an artist to create a mural design for the Crestdale neighborhood of Matthews. The design should be inspired by the historic Crestdale community to highlight the Crestdale Heritage Trail. Painting the mural will be a collaborative process with community members involved. There is an application process and artists must be 18 or older and eligible to work in the US. Find out further details here.

News Around Town: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Weather Warning for Thursday. According to the service, “Potential severe weather will be in store for the entire area on Thursday. Main threats will be damaging winds, large hail, and an isolated tornado or two.” If 2020 taught us anything, these warnings should be taken seriously. For follow up reports, see the National Weather Service website.

One Good Thing: Join the Mecklenburg County COVID-19 Renewal and Recovery Task Force for a virtual town hall this Thursday, March 18 from 6 - 7:30 pm. Centering around the detrimental effect that COVID-19 has had on mental health and childcare and family services in the community, experts will highlight the various ways COVID-19 has impacted childcare and family service providers. Register here.