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Morning Minute: Tuesday, June 30, 2020

News About Town: Matthews Fire and EMS train around the clock to continually improve skills and preparedness. Recently the department trained with Resurrection Fire-Rescue Training on the tower outside Station 1. Queue the Backdraft soundtrack, the department caught the exercises on video.

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News Around Town: CMS Board of Education has called a special meeting for July 1 at 7 pm. Watch on Facebook to follow the discussion on the reopening of schools.

One Good Thing: Need new duds? Backporch Treasures at the HELP Center has 50% off clothing with yellow tags. Score!

Morning Minute: Monday, June 29, 2020

News About Town: The second meeting for the Silver Line Task Force is Wednesday, July 1. Andy Mock and Jenna Nichols from CATS will present information about the Locally Preferred Alternative, its risks and benefits, and a timeline of the process. The meeting is available for viewing via Zoom. Click here to join from your phone or computer, or call 888-788-0099 (Toll Free) or 877-853- 5247 (Toll Free) and enter meeting ID 951 6538 6425.

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News Around Town: Get your steps in and learn some history at the same time. The Matthews Heritage Museum (232 N. Trade St.) has placed brochures for a walking tour of Matthews in their Little Free Library. There’s also a driving tour if four wheels is more your speed.

One Fun Thing: We love dishing the local news, but the real news is ice cream. The Local Scoop, aka locally owned ice cream geniuses, use locally sourced ingredients as often as possible. The Local Scoop has moved in behind Moe’s BBQ (111 Matthews Station St.) for the summer, making Matthews significantly cooler.

Morning Minute: Friday, June 26, 2020

News About Town: The intersection of N. Trade Street and Matthews Station Street will be undergoing construction to improve pedestrian safety. In 2017, the Board of Commissioners approved the project to move forward to design.

The construction contract was approved earlier this month by the Board of Commissioners (Bland, Garner, Miller, Whitley, Urban in favor of; Higdon and McCool opposed), the project estimate is $351,202.00 including contingencies. The low bidder, Boggs Construction Inc., will raise the intersection, extend the curb, and create hi-visibility crosswalks, in addition to recently installed lighting improvements. 

Surveyors were out on Monday, June 22, signaling the beginning of construction which should last through mid-August. One lane in each direction will remain open during the majority of construction. Alternate routes for cars and pedestrians.

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News Around Town: Today (Friday, June 26, 8 am - 4:30 pm) is your last day to pick up plants from Renfrow’s before the popular downtown hardware store closes for their annual week of vacation. If you miss the opportunity, check out the Farmer’s Market on Saturday. Wear your mask, pick up some freestone peaches, but save your money for some plants for your own pollinator garden. While you’re there, check out the patio area for garden inspiration. The market is part of the Butterfly Highway, a native plant pollinator habitat. 

One Good Thing: Reader (and Matthews resident) Nancy Callaway reached out to let us know she’s made masks which are available at the Harris Teeter pharmacy at Matthews Festival. Nancy asks that those who take a mask also make a donation to Special Olympics North Carolina in order to offset the nonprofit’s economic hardship during the COVID pandemic.

Morning Minute: Thursday, June 25, 2020

News About Town: After Monday’s resolution by Matthews Commissioners to support county-wide face coverings (read it in full here), on Tuesday, the County Commissioners created a mandate for Mecklenburg. Not all towns within the county agree to the mandate, making enforcement difficult. On Wednesday, Governor Cooper issued an Executive Order for the requirement of facial coverings where physical distancing is impossible. The Governor also extended Phase 2 for an additional three weeks.

News Around Town: Paceline Inc., a provider of fabrics for medical products, is adding ear loops to their inventory. The Matthews manufacturer added machines dedicated to produce ear loop fabric specifically going to surgical mask manufacturers.

One Fun Thing: All that talk about masks, if you’re looking for one ZAB’s Place (100 N. Trade) has upcycled fabric masks available in the shop or online.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, June 24, 2020

News About Town: During Monday’s meeting, the Board of Commissioners voted to support the county should it decide to make mask wearing a requirement. The resolution (read it in full here) follows CDC recommendations for masks indoors and in certain circumstances where physical distancing is difficult. According to Mayor Higdon, “The Centers for Disease Control have determined wearing a face covering is a useful preventative measure to slow the spread of COVID-19. While the town will not actively enforce compliance, it is my hope our citizens will respect their neighbors and tolerate the minor inconvenience of wearing a face covering when in situations where social distancing cannot be honored." 

On Tuesday, the County Commission approved a mask mandate though details are still unclear.

Recent recommendations from the World Health Organization and Stanford Medical, among other significant bodies in the medical community, confirm the importance of face coverings in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

News Around Town: If you’re looking for easy-to-grow plants to attract pollinators, native species are right on up there. Try flowers like purple coneflower, black eyed susan, common milkweed, New England aster, and common coreopsis. These are found in most area gardening centers, just make sure they haven’t been treated with neonics, a commonly used insecticide, which may defeat the purpose in attracting pollinators.

One Fun Thing: She may be living in Memphis now but Liz Brasher will always be a part of Matthews.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, June 23, 2020

In honor of National Pollinator Week, we’re highlighting Matthews pollinators in the news!

News About Town: Did you know the Town deliberately plans for healthy pollinator populations? In 2019, the Tree and Appearance Board revises the list of approved plantings for the Unified Development Ordinance (154.607.14). This list was revised to remove invasive species and consists predominantly of native species and provides additional options for developers when preparing landscape plans for development in Matthews.

News Around Town: If you haven’t been to Country Place Park lately, you should go. Not only is the pollinator garden in full bloom, but there’s new art to be seen. Gardener Martha Krauss’ talented neighbors and her niece kindly donated hand-painted rocks that double as plant markers. Learn about the plants and celebrate public art in one of Matthews’ most bee-utiful public parks.

Morning Minute: Monday, June 22, 2020

News About Town: During tonight’s Board of Commissioner’s meeting, the mayor will designate this as National Pollinator Week. The designation recognizes the importance of bees and other pollinators in producing our food supply, and their necessary role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

News Around Town: Did you know Matthews has been a member of Bee City USA since 2014? To be recognized, Matthews incorporated pollinator-conscious practices into city policies and has enhanced pollinator habitat by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides. Stay tuned, since it’s Pollinator Week you’ll see some special content here on the Beacon.

One Good Thing: Protests against racist policies continue around the country, including a Black Lives Matter March in Matthews yesterday. More than one hundred people filled the town green to join in song and hear from speakers. The event was family-friendly and called for action to fight systemic inequalities through community action and policy change.

Set in Stone: A Mystery Resolved


This article was contributed by Barbara Taylor of the Matthews Heritage Museum, 232 N. Trade Street   Matthews, NC  28105

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In late May Jeff Hauser, President of the Olde Mecklenburg Genealogy Society (OMGS) contacted the Matthews Historical Foundation and the Matthews Heritage Museum (MHM) asking if they knew of an old cemetery in the Crestdale section of Matthews. Barbara Taylor, Director of the MHM, having completed over a year of research on the neighborhood said she had never heard of a cemetery in the area.  The question was posed because a Piedmont Gas worker, Michael Doby had come across a number of cemetery markers with dates in the mid 19th century in a wooded area in Crestdale Crossing.  The earliest marker dated to 1817!

Hauser and Taylor felt that they needed to investigate the tombstones to see if they could find where they belonged.  They spent half a day individually recording what turned out to be 41 stones with inscriptions on them.  The stones were rather unusual as they were only 6 to 8 inches wide, and 11 to 27 inches tall.  They only had initials, rather than full names, and only 11 had a date on the marker.  They thought some, because of their size might be foot stones.  After documenting the stones, they began trying to research who these tombstones were for.  With initials and dates, we thought we might be able to discover a name in the census record or possible an obituary in the newspapers.  

Taylor decided to share this mystery with other historians in the Charlotte History Roundtable, to see if they might have a better way to identify the people the stones represented.  Within a few hours, historian John Blythe answered the call, identifying one stone with two sets of initials as a stone for two brothers who died on the same day and were buried in Sardis Presbyterian Cemetery.  The next day, using a database he has created from his years of research and FindAGrave, he was able to identify most of the initials with people who were buried at Sardis Presbyterian Church. 

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Taylor contacted David Blackley who oversees the cemetery.  He remembered that in 1970 the church cemetery had suffered vandalism with a number of its stones knocked over.  The church decided to place many of them flat on the ground.  But others were given to Neil Huntley, caretaker of the cemetery to keep them safe.  He brought them home and stored them in a wooded area behind his house.  Huntley died a few years ago.  For almost 50 years they had been there when Doby discovered them.  After Blackley reviewed the pictures and information on the stones, he was convinced they were footstones for many graves at the cemetery. 

Currently the town of Matthews has them in safe storage.  But this interesting mystery has been solved thru the cooperation of a handful of individuals and organizations who believe in the preservation of history. Plans are being made to bring the stones home safely to Sardis Presbyterian Church. 

Morning Minute: Friday, June 19, 2020

News About Town: There will be a 5:30 pm meeting before the regular Board of Commissioners meeting this Monday, June 22. Police Chief Clark Pennington, town staff, and the Board will discuss current events, as anti-racism protests continue in the region and nationwide. This remote meeting can be viewed via Zoom or on the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. You can also listen in by calling 888-788-0099 (Toll Free) or 877-853-5247 (Toll Free) and entering meeting ID 992 1822 160.

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One Fun Thing: It’s time again for the Farmer’s Market Annual Peach Fundraiser. Pick some up this Saturday, but the earlier you get there, the better, they tend to sell out. This week the market will have Red Havens, a semi-cling variety with red-blushed yellow skin. Market hours are 8 am to noon, Saturdays.

Don’t Forget: The Black Lives Matter Family March begins at 11:30 am at Country Place Park this Sunday.

Morning Minute: Thursday, June 18, 2020

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. Once again, the meeting will be conducted remotely. To watch live, the meeting is available via Zoom (link here, meeting starts at 7 pm, Monday, June 22). A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter meeting ID 992 1822 1601. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

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One Important Thing: Tomorrow, June19, is Juneteenth, a day that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the farthest reaches of the southern US. On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, news reached Galveston, Texas that the Civil War had ended.

Today at noon, the Charlotte History museum will host Khadija McNair, Assistant Site Manager at Historic Stagville State Historic Site on a Zoom video conference. Khadija will explain the significance of Juneteenth and why it matters. The Zoom conference will celebrate the accomplishments, resistance, and persistence of the people Juneteenth remembers. Register here.

On Friday, Fifth Third and Truist/BB&T banks will close are 2 pm in observance of Juneteenth.

Also on Friday, Levine Museum (Facebook & YouTube pages), in partnership with House of Africa, will host an online,educational, family-friendly Juneteenth celebration. Through  history, music, storytelling, and poetry, the event will underscore the advancement of civil rights for African Americans since the abolishment of Slavery.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, June 17, 2020

News About Town: Mayor John Higdon has a message for Matthews graduates:

On behalf of the Matthews Board of Commissioners, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the graduating classes of Butler High School and Providence High School!

The class of 2020 has endured a senior year like no other. A drive-through ceremony may not be what you have envisioned for this very special occasion - but do not let that take away from what you have achieved. Take time to reflect on your accomplishments and be proud of yourself. Your family, friends, and the entire community are proud of you.

As you move on towards your bright future, please remember that the Matthews community is behind you. We wish you all the best. 

Congratulations Class of 2020!

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News About Town: Speaking of finishing up the school year, Shorter University wrote to let us know Matthews resident Jackson Wheatley made the Dean’s List. Jackson is a chemistry major at the Rome, GA university. Great job, Jackson!

A group of local Matthews/South Charlotte moms organized a peaceful, family-oriented Black Lives Matter March this Sunday, June 21, from 11:30-2:30. The march aims to heighten awareness around racism and discrimination in an atmosphere of acceptance. The march will begin at 11:30 am at Country Place Park and will end at Town Hall, where several speakers will address the attendees.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, June 16, 2020

News About Town: A Silver Line Task Force of fifteen Matthews residents, business owners, and developers has been formed to discuss the Silver Line’s Local Preferred Alternative (LPA). The task force will meet virtually has its first meeting this Wednesday, then will meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of July and August (starting at 7:00 pm) to determine a LPA by the fall of this year. The LPA will be then presented to the Board of Commissioners.

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News About Town: Save Leg Day for the weekend. The Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity needs five volunteers to help with landscaping this Saturday, June 20. Your hard work will beautify Mack and Yvette’s nearly-finished home. All the digging and planting will be good for your legs, while volunteering is great for the heart.

 
 
 

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