Morning Minute: Friday, July 30, 2021

News About Town: Matthews Gives Back is back! Area churches and nonprofits are partnering with the police department for Matthews Gives Back School Supply Drive. If you would like to donate new supplies check out the online shopping list through Amazon. If your child needs supplies, fill out this application or call the HELP Center (704-847-8383). Join the police and the program sponsors for a community cook-out and supply giveaway on August 20 at Matthews Sportsplex Field 6, 1505 Tank Town Rd.

News Around Town: Did you know Mecklenburg County offers limited spots of free pre-k for county residents? Applications are currently open, and the department has extended offices hours to help applicants with the form. The county partners with four- and five-star childcare centers throughout the area to provide pre-k education to children who are or will be four years old before August 31. Find out more or apply online here.

One Fun Thing: Generations Corvette Club will be at Mac’s Speed Shop tomorrow (July 31) at 5pm. The club’s members have Corvettes spanning back to the sixties. Feast your eyes on some metal, satiate your desire for smoked meat, then stay for the aural treat that is singer-songwriter Austin McNeill, who takes the mic at 6pm.

Don’t Forget:

• Tuesday, August 3, 6pm - 9pm: National Night Out with Matthews Police at Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade. This annual event, in it's 37th year, encourages neighborhoods to meet as one community and get to know each other as well as the Officers who serve it.

• August 17, 7pm: Matthews Board of Commissioners Candidate Forum will take place at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 381 Crestdale Rd.

Morning Minute: Friday, July 23, 2021

News About Town: As is tradition, there will be no second Board of Commissioners meeting this month. The next meeting will be August 9.

Several advisory board meetings are coming up over the next two weeks. The Planning Board and Cultural Diversity Committee both have remote meetings scheduled for this Tuesday (July 27) at 7 pm. The following week the Veterans Advisory Committee (August 4, 7pm) and the Board of Adjustment (August 5, 7pm) will meet.

With the expiration of the Governor’s COVID Emergency Declaration on July 31, all board and advisory board meetings will resume as in-person meetings on August 1.

News Around Town: Filing has closed for the 2023/24 Board of Commissioners campaign season.
Current Mayor John Higdon will run unopposed. Eight Matthews residents have declared candidacy for the Board: Dani Burnham, Renee Garner, Gina Hoover, Heather Spicer Laws, Ken McCool, Mark Tofano, John Urban, and Larry Whitley. The first candidate forum will take place at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 381 Crestdale Rd., on August 17 at 7pm. Election day for Matthews commissioners is Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

One Good Thing: It was a busy night on the green (green-adjacent?) in front of Town Hall as interested community members attended the Silver Line open house. A steady flow of people visited pop up tents with details of the soft plans for the future Silver Line. The open house provided opportunity for input and feedback on the alignment, priorities, transit oriented design, and station design. The highlight of spending time engaged with the town on a hot summer evening? A cup of flavored Italian ice as a thanks for participating.

Don’t Forget:

• Tuesday, August 3, 6pm - 9pm: National Night Out with Matthews Police at Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade. This annual event, in it's 37th year, encourages neighborhoods to meet as one community and get to know each other as well as the Officers who serve it.

• August 17, 7pm: Matthews Board of Commissioners Candidate Forum will take place at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 381 Crestdale Rd.

Cascades--Cinquain by Lorraine Stark

Cascades

Sunlight’s
rays silently
warm dried red clay river
beds, as if all the water was
flowing

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash photographer @daniel_sturgess

Morning Minute: Thursday, July 15, 2021

News About Town: This past Monday the Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting at Town Hall. A public hearing was held for Zoning Application 2021-730/Williams Road subdivision. The hearing was continued until the August 9 board meeting. The former JC Penney building will have a new resident soon--the façade for At Home was approved with a few minor conditions. The Board also discussed future board's salary. An increase could not be approved, salary increases must be approved during the annual town budget process.

News Around Town: Candidates are throwing their hats in the ring for the 2021 Board of Commissioners election. John Higdon has filed for reelection as mayor. Six Matthews residents have declared candidacy for the Board: Dani Burnham, Gina Hoover, Heather Spicer Laws, Ken McCool, Mark Tofano, and John Urban. Filing closes Friday, July 16 at noon. Election day is Tuesday, November 2 of this year.

One Good Thing: On Friday, July 16, the Fire Department and Police Department will go toe to toe at Stumptown Park (120 S. Trade Street), and this time they’re out for blood. Support the department dearest to your heart by donating blood with One Blood during the annual “Battle of the Badges” blood drive event. Stop by the park between 2pm and 8pm to give, but make sure to let them know which department you support. The department with the most blood banked wins bragging rights! Walk-ins are welcome, but schedule an appointment for a smooth and easy process. Aside from feeling good from giving, you’ll also receive some swag, including a free first responders t-shirt, a $20 eGift card, and a wellness checkup.

Don’t Forget: CATS will host a Transit Oriented Design input session on July 22 in front of Matthews Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station St. The outdoor, family-friendly event will take place from 5:30 to 7 pm. The County and community partner StarMed Healthcare will provide walk-up vaccinations during the meeting. Visit Starmed.Care or call the MCPH at 980-314-9400 for more information.

Look Up, a richtameter by Lorraine Stark

Look Up

Look up
said the angels
Their soft voices echoed
over the sound of bells ringing
I saw their reflections in a puddle
so beautiful and breathtaking
I knelt down before it
when one whispered
Look up

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash photographer @831gaberodriguez

Morning Minute: Monday, July 1

News About Town: Fire Station 1 in Downtown Matthews recently received a facelift, nip/tuck, and augmentation. Ok, actually the façade was given a fresh coat of paint, the sign dropped the word “volunteer,” and an LED-illuminated scramble (logo) was installed. The new scramble (replacing the previous volunteer version) will also be used on patches for uniforms and printed on tees. This new branding is the next step in transitioning from a predominantly volunteer department to a predominantly career department, a major change for fire-protection services for Matthews.

News Around Town: This Sunday, July 4, is Free Fishing Day in NC. Though bait, tackle, length, and daily possession regulations still apply, fishing licenses are not required on Free Fishing Day. The NC Wildlife Commission lists two spots in the ‘105 to fish: Squirrel Lake Park (1631 Pleasant Plains Rd.) and Col. Francis Beatty Park (4330 Weddington Rd.). Meck County Parks and Rec lists Idlewild Road Park’s (10512 Idlewild Rd.) two-acre pond as another fishin’ hole. Need equipment but don’t know if you want to invest in your own rod? Call the Community Center (704-321-7275), loaners are available for fishing at Squirrel Lake.

One Important Thing: Matthews Community Farmers’ Market is celebrating 30 years of supporting local agriculture. In honor of the milestone, the market is going 30-for-30, asking supporters for a $30 donation. Each donation will further the market’s efforts in fostering the next generation in the agricultural community, expanding educational programs, and providing wholesome foods to vulnerable members of the community. Give here.

Don’t Forget:

• The Town of Matthews Parks, Rec, and Cultural Resources Advisory Committee meeting taking place on July 14, 2021 at 6:30pm to discuss an upcoming mural project by Osiris Rain at the Loyalist.