The People of Matthews: County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez McDowell

We asked a few people who work for the community of Matthews to share their thoughts and hopes for 2019. Here’s what County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez McDowell told us:

Photo from McDowell4Meck.com

Do you have a New Year's resolution? I do not have a specific New Year's resolution, however, life has changed so profoundly for me as a result of the November election that I am working hard to build a schedule and a routine that includes time for constituents, family, study, personal development, and of course county business. Creating and maintaining balance will be a challenge, but I am really excited about each and every aspect of the coming year.

What do you hope for in the new year? What I hope for in the New Year is to truly make an impact in the lives of real people, to make a difference.  My hope is that I will be part of steps taken toward progress for the many issues our community faces in regards to equity, and a fair shake for those struggling with affordable housing, educational opportunities and access to county services.  It is my desire to be bold in finding ways to enhance our way of life and sustain our environment. 

What do you want to leave behind in the old year? What I would like to leave behind in 2018 is proverbial baggage! I am a firm believer that in order to move ahead, you have to look back and learn from your story... see where mistakes were made so that you can learn from them. 

What do you see foresee for Matthews in the coming year? As far as Matthews in the coming year, I am very hopeful.  The Town of Matthews has a lot going for it - it's charming, well located, has great bones and caring people - but it is going through growing pains and is at a crossroads for deciding how to handle that growth. At the Labor Day Parade this year I was really struck with how many new, young families were lining the streets along with folks who have a long history in Matthews - both groups are really needed to engage and take part in community discussions so that all perspectives are heard and considered.  It also appears that many of the citizens of Matthews are becoming more aware than ever of how their elected leaders can really shape their town.

I wish a very happy and healthy 2019 (along with loads of Beacon) for the people of Matthews!

What’s in a New Street Name?

This year, the Town of Matthews (in partnership with Mecklenburg County) built one new street – Sports Parkway between Tank Town and Matthews-Mint Hill Roads.

The number of new streets created in previous years are:  2017 – 3; 2016 – 2; 2015 – 2; 2014 – 0. These include Lake Harmony Drive off of Mount Harmony Church Road, Downton Court in the Eden Hall development on Fullwood Lane, and Margaret Ridge Drive in the Stevens Grove subdivision off of Highway 51. The most recently created streets are Talbot Court, Hamlet Court, and Kings Manor Court.

Photo by Renee Garner

To create a street and name, developers must propose the names; the Town has code requirements to ensure that new street names are appropriate and not duplicated. Mecklenburg County ultimately approves the name and assigns the individual street addresses.

The Planning Department reviews street names when new subdivisions/developments are in plan review. The Zoning Administrator, Mary Jo Gollnitz, considers the proposed street names for the Town, as do Matthews Planning Department, Public Works, Police Department, and Fire & EMS Department before the name is submitted to Mecklenburg County for final approval. 

According to code, proper street names must consist of one to three words, plus a street type suffix. The name must not duplicate or too closely approximate phonetically the name of any other street within the Town or county. Street names cannot include a business name, punctuation, possibly offensive words, or directional suffixes. 

The first word of a street name can only be used in two other locations within the county. The only exception to this is the use of a generic label naming a topographic feature or a color.

According to the National League of Cities, the five top street names in the country are Second, Third, First, Fourth, and Park.

According to the US Census Bureau’s US Tiger/Shapefiles, 2014, the most common street name in North Carolina is Dogwood. The top 10 street names in this state are: Dogwood (328), Park (304), Oak (261), Pine (245), Ridge (234), Cedar (225), Maple (225), Sunset (220), Church (204), and 2nd/Second (193).

The naming of streets reflects the era in which it was created – 18th- and 19th-century streets often reflected English (UK) roots or defined the purpose of that road. Later 19th-century developers named streets after trees and flowers; 20th- and 21st-century streets often mirror developers’ family names. Most recently, following the rise in technology and modernization, roads are again reflecting the generic definition of the business located on that street.

Morning Minute: December 31, 2018

News About Town: The Fire Department had a busy night over the weekend, starting in the evening on Morningwood Drive with a two-vehicle fire. The accidental fire ended with the total loss of one vehicle and damage to the second. Several hours later a three-department team (Matthews, Mint Hill, and Idlewild) responded to a call at a duplex near Butler High School. This fire displaced four people, who are being provided for by the American Red Cross. The Stallings Fire Department provided coverage for Matthews during this call.

News Around Town: Starting tonight, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on January 1, is the most dangerous time to be on the road in the US. The Matthews Police Department recently shared some tips on social media that are well-worth repeating: Plan and know how you’re getting home, whether a designated driver or an Uber/Lyft (why not put the app on your phone right now?), make sure your driver hasn’t been drinking. All senses need to be sharp. If you drink heavily on New Year’s Eve you could still be tipsy when you wake up January 1. If you’re still feeling it, it’s not okay to drive then, either. Finally, if you’re out and you see unsafe drivers on the road, pull over and call 9-1-1. Stay safe tonight, Matthews.

Some Fun Things: There are plenty of fun activities all over Matthews if you’re up for a New Year’s party, but the one that stands out most, especially in light of how dangerous it is to be on the roads tonight, is at Mac’s Speed Shop. The restaurant, located at 142 E. John St., has no cover and live music by Woodie and the String Pullers starting at 8 p.m. Most importantly, though, Mac’s customers can use Lyft to get home and get $10 off the ride by using coupon code: MACS19MTW. (Giant H/T to responsible businesses!)

The People of Matthews: Mayor Paul Bailey

We asked a few people who work for the community of Matthews to share their thoughts and hopes for 2019. Here’s what Mayor Paul Bailey told us:

Photo from MatthewsNC.gov

Do you have a New Year's resolution? Spend more time focused on the important things in life.

What do you hope for in the new year? Continued health and increased time getting outside and enjoying our parks, greenways, and our great town.

What do you want to leave behind in the old year? Although I spent 41 years doing a job I loved, I will happily leave that behind in 2018. Time for new and different adventures.

What do you see foresee for Matthews in the coming year? We have a number of items I want to address in 2019. Foremost is to resolve the improvements to John St. with NCDOT and solidify the idea of traffic moving around the historic downtown rather than through it; getting the Trade St. bridge construction completed; getting aggressive in finding grants dollars to tie our greenways, bike trails, and sidewalks together to further develop our walkability and connectivity; and continue the vision for our historic downtown by encouraging a balance of residential and business uses so we can continue to see Matthews become a desirable place to live, work and play.    

The People of Matthews: Officer Tim Aycock

We asked a few people who work for the Town of Matthews to share their thoughts and hopes for 2019. Here’s what Officer Tim Aycock, Community Resource and Public Information Officer for the Matthews Police Department, told us:

Do you have a New Year's resolution? As cliche as it sounds, I want to get into better shape and spend more quality time with the family.

What do you hope for in the new year? Health, happiness, prosperity and better time management.

What do you want to leave behind in the old year? Any negativity/stress and to not worry about the little things that don't really matter anyway.

What do you see foresee for Matthews in the coming year? I see Matthews continuing to strengthen its current community relationships as well as seeking every opportunity to build new ones. Matthews is a very special place where its citizens and stakeholders understand the importance of working together as a team to achieve our goals. 

Around the Table with the Burkes: Feeding the Frenzy

The holiday season is excellent for messing up a routine. Parties, outings, travel, family visits… the joyful events that leave us exhausted and not quite sure what day it is (Friday? Right. Friday).

This week began in Pennsylvania for the Burke clan, where meals were less planned than they were thrown together based on the easiest way to feed a crowd of 12 in a hurry.

Saturday we baked a spiral ham, roasted some squash, and mashed potatoes. Easy, quick, large quantities. Though according to my children, ham is “disgusting.” My husband, ham lover, was heartbroken by their declaration.

Sunday was a day for roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, egg noodles, and corn. My cranberry sauce is made fresh from berries, with fresh orange juice, cinnamon, and sugar. I talked briefly with Thea of Lil Rebel Bakery at the last Farmer’s Market I hit up, and we agreed that the key to baking and cooking with cranberries is to keep adding sugar until it tastes good. Fair warning – this sauce is not a health food.

“The key to baking and cooking with cranberries is to keep adding sugar until it tastes good. ”

Cranberry Sauce

• 1 Pound Cranberries

• 1 Cup Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

• 1 Cup Water

• 1 Cup White Sugar

• 1 Cup Brown Sugar

• 1 tsp Cinnamon

Rinse the cranberries and then mix the ingredients together in a medium saucepan. Place on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the liquid starts to boil. Keep stirring until the cranberries start to pop open. Turn the heat down to medium-low and let the sauce simmer for 30-45 minutes.

You can also make this in a crockpot, add all the ingredients to the crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours, then remove the lid and cook another 45 minutes.

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Growing up, my family Christmas Eve tradition was joining our close family friends at their home, helping to decorate their tree, and sharing an assortment of weird food (oyster stew and lasagna this year, I admit I missed the pigs in a blanket we made when I was a kid), gifts, and cookies. I have missed out on the tradition for years because of my holiday travel rule, much to the dismay of Kathryn, the matriarch of our friends’ family. She sends me a card every year asking when we’re going to show up, so this year I told my mom to keep our travel plans a secret. I don’t often succeed in surprising people, it was super fun, highly recommend.

On Tuesday, Christmas day, we opened gifts and then traveled back to Matthews. A whirlwind day ended with ham, mashed potatoes, and green beans delivered to our door by a dear friend.

Wednesday was a good day for recovering from travel and ordering takeout.

Thursday my husband took our older kids to Carowinds for Winterfest, and left me and our toddler to patch together dinner on our own: an assortment of chicken nuggets, French fries, and various fruit.

Today I’m going to get back to making my family real food. We’ll have roast beef (sirloin tip roast coated with garlic, onion, salt & pepper, roasted on a rack at 325 for 1.5 hours) for dinner with sweet potatoes from the farmers market and sautéed broccoli. After the last few weeks, I’m really looking forward to a large pile of vegetables for dinner tonight, and getting back to the Market tomorrow!

The People of Matthews: Lori Canapinno

We asked a few people who work for the Town of Matthews to share their thoughts and hopes for 2019. Here’s what Lori Canapinno, Town Clerk, told us:

Do you have a New Year's resolution? I don't make resolutions per se, but I am entering 2019 with the general intent of being a better person tomorrow than I was today. Everyone is human and makes mistakes, but continuously striving to be better will lead only to positive results.

What do you hope for in the new year? I hope that people try to see the good in others and don't immediately assume that differing opinions mean there's no common ground or ability to have productive discourse.

What do you want to leave behind in the old year? I would like to stop being so reluctant to try new things and get out of my comfort zone.

What do you see foresee for Matthews in the coming year? I think that Matthews will continue to be a wonderful place in 2019 with an actively involved citizenry. There are a lot of big issues being discussed and decided and it's great to see people becoming really engaged with their local government. Part of my job is helping facilitate that, and I am excited when citizens become more involved with the government that most directly impacts their day to day lives.

Morning Minute: December 28, 2018

News About Town: Republic Services will not pick up trash on New Year’s Day and pick up will operate on a one-day delay. Yard waste pick up is behind schedule as well.

News Around Town:  If you’re getting to know the Town website, but have a tough time navigating and searching, Protect Matthews has a Google search set up for the site. With options for the type of document, exact search, or keyword search it makes finding documents on MatthewsNC.gov a great deal easier.

One Good Thing: The Arts and Science Council is holding a workshop to explain the application for the McColl Award, a $25,000 grant.  This grant is open to Mecklenburg County-based nonprofits and creative individuals and ASC staff will be on hand to answer questions. This workshop is Tuesday, January 8, 2019 from 5:30, until 7 p.m. in the Van Every Auditorium at the Mint Museum on Randolph (2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte).

The People of Downtown Matthews: Resolution Edition

A few familiar faces from Downtown Matthews shared their thoughts and hopes for 2019:

"I don't really ever make New Year's resolutions. If I need to fix it, I do it then and there. I'm grateful and thankful, every day. Every year."

~David Blackley, Owner, Renfrow Hardware

"To continue to serve the community of Matthews through celebration of local history."

~Barbara Taylor, Director, Matthews Heritage Museum

"Mine is basically to spend more time with my kids (who live in Florida)."

~Derry Poulos, Server, Seaboard Brewing

Mumukshu Brahmbhatt: Giving Back Through Service

“In the joy of others lies our own.”

— Pramukh Swami Maharaj

To hear Mumukshu “MB” Brahmbhatt, 45, of Waxhaw, tell it, his life has been a whirlwind.

Moving from India to study business and finance in Australia 23 years ago, to working at the UPS Store (2217 Matthews Township Pkwy), MB has always squarely placed his faith in God, his religion, and his core values. In doing so, he has been on a rollercoaster ride—of life.  The last stop has been Matthews; he’s now celebrating his 10th year as owner of that store.  

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

But this story begins 20 years ago when on a trip (from Australia) to visit relatives in New Jersey, he had a half-hour face-to-face with a potential new wife in Jacksonville, FL. Before leaving to go back to Australia, he requested a second brief meeting but was turned down.  

Unbeknownst to him, and shortly thereafter, his now-wife’s father flew her family to MB’s parent’s house in India to meet his family. His wife’s family was so thrilled with what they saw that they asked him to immediately fly to India to get engaged. At that point, he could not remember what his future bride looked like. More importantly, he was unsure what to do.

Conferring with his spiritual leader in India, he requested permission to delay his final exams, and off he flew to Mumbai to meet her parents.  

They requested that he get engaged and then travel 300 miles to his parents’ house to marry. He requested time to finish his studies, graduate, land a job, and then marry before moving with his future wife. They requested a local court marriage. And so he was engaged and then married—within 10 days.

They had a one-day honeymoon.

She went back to Florida; he went back to Australia to complete his studies. He was, as he says, “in shock.”

It would be one year after their whirlwind meeting that he would finish his schooling, obtain his visa, and move to Florida to discuss the specifics of their life.

He laid out his intentions: he wanted to move to New York to live in the financial capital of the world. She didn’t want to go north. He opened up a map and asked her to tell him where they might move. They found a “happy medium.” In 1999, they moved to the Charlotte area. He is now the father of two children.

For MB, all of the stories—the stuff of life in between birth and death—has been but a mere journey to an afterlife, one that is ordained and divined by God. Until that happens, this devotee of Hinduism says he is experiencing his life as intended—as a life of joy, service, giving back to the community, and serving for the greater good of family, friends, and customers.

“This is a temporary life,” said MB. “He designed this for me. I’m happy, and I’m here to serve,” he said.

He is proud of his guru, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, 5th spiritual Guru of BAPS Organization following in the footsteps of Shastriji Maharaj and Bhagwan (God) Swaminarayan, with their emphasis on a life dedicated to the betterment of others. Following their dictates, he is alive and on earth to “serve others” without “attachments to things, as we all have to leave [those] behind one day.”

First arriving in Charlotte, MB sought the advice of others to help him find a good path and an applicable business. Investigation led to the purchase of a UPS store in Pineville. He purchased a second store in Indian Trail, and then finally the store in Matthews. The first two have been sold.  The Matthews store he calls his “home.”

“Those values keep me content, on the ground. I’ve had all the big American dreams so far … I have been blessed by all that. I have gotten more than I deserve.”

— MB Brahmbhatt

Photo by Renee Garner

His story, he says, is the American dream. He built up “sweat equity”; he extended himself to the community, joined local business groups, walked door-to-door to introduce himself to people, and attended every community event he could find. He is proud of his success, but quick to state that riches are not important in this lifetime. “Those values keep me content, on the ground. I’ve had all the big American dreams so far … I have been blessed by all that. I have gotten more than I deserve.”

The extra touches he brings include holding the door open for his customers, driving to get the packages himself, offering a discount while providing superior service. “We do small, small things that people don’t expect us to do,” he said, including calling customers when their sent packages have been delivered, and dropping off packages when they arrive.  

Honesty and integrity remain at the heart of his values, as do his religious tenets.  “What you preach, you have to practice,” he says. MB prays and meditates each morning and each evening. He also fasts every 15 days and attends his temple (mandir) every Sunday. He remains one of the pre-eminent members of his Indian temple (BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Matthews) and is PR Lead of its community outreach program.

In the future, he hopes to double his volume and, perhaps, own other businesses – more chances to give back to the community that he has grown to love and that he feels accepts and appreciates him. “Ten years later, I’m learning that all I’ve done is a byproduct of [my hard work],” he said. “I don’t expect [anything]. When you have no expectations and you do your work, sometimes you get the fruit.”

The UPS Store 2729, 2217 Matthews Township Pkwy, Ste D, Matthews, North Carolina

Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Saturday: 9;00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Sunday: Closed

Morning Minute: December 27, 2018

News About Town: The Matthews Police Department is holding a community meeting to present a plan addressing traffic concerns for Elizabeth Lane Elementary. Stop by the school gymnasium on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 6:15 P.M. to hear their plans for increasing safety and efficiency during major traffic hours. During the mini-planning conference, the Board of Commissioners heard a presentation by the Town’s Transportation Department as well as the Police Department. Some solutions included having a dedicated School Resource Officer for the school as well as encouraging bus ridership.

News Around Town: Youth Shrine Bowls of the Carolinas’ annual Battle of the Borders is coming to the Sportsplex, 2425 Sports Parkway, this Saturday, December 29, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Youth Shrine Bowl Athletics of the Carolinas, a nonprofit, provides fifth to eighth graders who typically can’t afford sports programs the opportunity to participate in youth sports. After rigorous tryouts, coaches select players based on detailed analysis. While the program is free, participants must fundraise to participate in the bowl, with proceeds going to local children’s hospitals. Tickets are $20.

One Fun Thing: The Pizza Peel Matthews, 110 Matthews Station St , is throwing a New Year’s bash for the younger set. Kids will finally understand the fun of New Years with the Peel’s free buffet of cheese and pepperoni pizza, party favors, sparkling juice, and a countdown at noon. And for the parents? We don’t have to worry about grumpy kids who didn’t get enough sleep the night before! December 31, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

*Kids 12 and under, must be accompanied by a legal parent or guardian. Parents wanting pizza can have the regular weekday pizza buffet.

Merry Beacon Holiday

Matthews Adorned for Christmas

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Photo by Renee Garner

Photo by Renee Garner

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Photo by Renee Garner

Photo by Renee Garner

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Photo by Renee Garner

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Photo by Renee Garner

Photo by Renee Garner

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Photo by Renee Garner

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Shop owners and residents around Matthews have adorned the town with shiny baubles to celebrate Christmas; others have decorated with a winter theme. We’ve put together a quick tour of some of our favorites. See if you recognize some, and if we’re missing something extra special, comment below.

The Many Roles of Sargent Michelle Archer

“I’m a strong believer in God and this was God’s will, this was his plan - his way of saying, ‘this is where I need you right now.’ He opened the door; he paved the way, and I found success as a result of it. It has everything to do with my passion, my heart, and my strong will to make a difference.”

When Michelle Archer joined the Matthews Police Department 21 years ago, she entered the force as the first African-American woman hired as a sworn police officer for the town.

Her entrance, at age 31, was a long time coming, having dreamed of this pursuit as a teenager. “When I first decided to be a police officer, it was at the age of 16,” said Archer, 53. “[That’s] when a police officer came into school, and I saw how kids responded to that officer,” she said.

One of three children, born in San Diego, Archer did not go to college. “College was not something which was encouraged…it wasn’t something I knew much about,” she said. So, without further educational guidance, she went into the military, joining the United States Army where she served eight years as a telecommunication center specialist.

Upon military discharge, she began working for the Mecklenburg County Security Police Department. A sergeant took her under his wing and helped guide her into the realm of police work. In 1998, the Matthews Police Department came calling. And the rest, as they might say, is history.

“I like people. I’m a nurturer. I like helping people. When a person has a problem, I listen and I automatically jump into solution mode.”

— Sgt. Michelle Archer

Sgt. Archer during the Matthews Gives Back school supply drive and community cook out.

New to the force and patient to pay her dues, she soon had her sights on a School Resource Officer (SRO) position. “I like people. I’m a nurturer. I like helping people,” she said. “When a person has a problem, I listen and I automatically jump into solution mode. Law enforcement is the best way to do that, and for me, it was the easiest way to do that. I also wanted to work with kids.”

SRO work would give her both the “kids” and law enforcement pieces. It was God and her heart which were guiding her. “I follow my heart,” she said. “I try to do what’s right and I put all my faith and all my trust in him.”

“As an SRO, you are the single officer in the school,” Archer said. “I always liken it to ‘Marshall Dillon’ – you are the only police officer, the only person in the town in charge of enforcing the law. There is no backup, no sheriffs or deputies….you are it. Every investigation, every call-to-service that’s given out in your community, you are responsible for [it]. “

By year four, she had secured her dream job as the only Elementary School Resource Officer in the CMS school system. Four years later, the department promoted Archer to Butler High School, where she proudly stayed for 12 years - serving as “Mom.”

“I am a mentor, counselor; I’m a teacher…there’s a lot. For years, the kids haven’t referred to me as Officer Archer - they refer to me as Mom...I am to the kids and the school what their parents are at home.”

— Sgt. Michelle Archer

“I am a law enforcement officer. I am a parent to two of my own, but also of 2100 kids at Butler School,” she said proudly. “I am a mentor, counselor; I’m a teacher…there’s a lot. For years, the kids haven’t referred to me as Officer Archer - they refer to me as Mom. To this very day, I have kids who have graduated say ‘Mom!’ or ‘this is my Mom!’ I am to the kids and the school what their parents are at home.”

Coming to work every single day, Archer explained further, was just like coming home. “These are my kids; I love these kids. I feel like these are my kids that I am raising,” she said. “I may not have given birth to every single one of them, but I am nurturing them and raising every single one of them that walks through that door. And, I’ll do everything to protect and keep them safe…and everything I can to make sure they are successful in life – that’s what a parent does.”

In her work, Archer handled everything but a death investigation. “Everything that’s investigated out in the road, I have investigated in the schools,” said Archer. “What I’m doing in the schools is the same thing that the patrol officers are doing on the road. It’s just that I’m doing it in the schools and I’m the only one able to do it.”

While her time at school was both joyous and fulfilling, she has also experienced personal pain. “Our hearts get broken all the time,” said Archer. “I have cried when I’ve been arresting kids because you aren’t mad at them, you are disappointed – like a parent, and it breaks your heart. I tell them all the time that ‘you know I’m disappointed in you,’ as I’m arresting them. Or, I’m crying when I’m sitting with them waiting for the parents to come because I know that they are going to have big hoops to get through this…..bottom line is that I have a job to do, but I still love my kids.”

Sgt. Archer was recognized for her promotion during a 2017 Board of Commissioners meeting.

To add to her role, she has also attended many after-school and weekend sporting events both in and out of uniform. She has helped pay for food for the athletes; brought snacks for the team; accompanied them on away games. But, she clearly draws the line on a personal level. “No, I don’t hang out with them,” she said, stating that her relationships are like a parent to a child. However, she has become friends with some of the children’s parents.

Last year, the department promoted Archer to the rank of Sergeant. She now oversees four SROs and one DARE officer. Although the promotion left her full of gratitude and gratefulness, she quickly learned this position would directly remove her from the work and children she clearly loves.

“An SRO who has been in that school has been a fixture in that school,” she said. “Everyone knows them. You become that school – that staff, those parents’ personal police officer; the person who is going to keep them safe, the person who is going to protect them; and [in that environment] no other police officer exists. You become familiar, and those relationships are developed, and that rapport is developed, and you are ‘it.’"

“You are the only cop they know, even though you are not the only cop in town,” Archer said. “So when I go to [Butler High], I’m now not going to be that familiar face. That’s going to be hard. It’s already become hard. They no longer see Mom. That was really hard. That was really, really hard to get used to.”

After nearly two years in this new position, her return to Butler High is very bittersweet. “I still go to their graduations…I’m there to see them through….as they walk across that stage, I’m there at the bottom of that stage.” But, now, a new officer is taking her place. After this year, the remaining kids who knew her will have graduated and moved on. “I will accept my role as a supervisor and get to know them. But, I will not have the same role or respect from the kids that [the new officer] will have.”

Among the many other accomplishments in Archer’s life include eight years of serving in the North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers where she began as Regional Representative and rose through the ranks to President; she is now Immediate Past President. She is responsible for the creation of a comprehensive statewide network database of assigned NC School Resource Officers. As a direct result, there is now an SRO email contact database used by the officers, the Association, and the Department of Education.

Sgt. Archer served on the board of the North Carolina Association of School Resource Officers. Photo courtesy Matthews Police Department.

Since she will retire in less than two years, she sees her future as bright and knows there’s always more police work to do. “I want to keep working with kids, I want to keep working with schools!” said Archer. “I’m a strong believer in God and this was God’s will, this was his plan - his way of saying, ‘this is where I need you right now.’ He opened the door; he paved the way, and I found success as a result of it. It has everything to do with my passion, my heart, and my strong will to make a difference.”

The only caveat? If her daughters have kids. In that case, “I will become a full-time nanny to my grandkids!” she says with a laugh.

Morning Minute: Monday, December 24, 2018

It will be a (hopefully) light week on news, so our traditional Morning Minute format is going on vacation for a few days. There are some things going on around Matthews, though, so check out what we’ve found:

If you need a pre-Christmas work out, Mojo Cycles Christmas Eve Day ride will be held at 9:00 am today. Meet in the public parking lot that runs parallel to the RR tracks (by the shop). Cyclists of all abilities are welcome for this 30- or 52-mile ride. No registration or fee and no formal support while on the road.

Most churches around town offer Christmas Eve services at various times. Renee’s favorite is at Matthews Presbyterian, a the more traditional candlelight and communion service (at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.). The kids of Matthews United Methodist Church will perform a biblical rendition of Scrooge at both 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. Ridge Church offers a casual environment in The Warehouse Cafe and the first 50 people get free peppermint mocha or hot chocolate. They offer live music before the service as well. Services begin at 3:00 and 4:30 p.m.

On Christmas day, if you’re ready to get out of the house for lunch, Beantown Tavern is offering an all-you-can-eat Christmas meal: $14.95 for adults, $7.95 for kids. Beantown has a local reputation for being a second home to many of our readers, and sometimes us need exactly that on Christmas Day.

We’re taking time to be with our own families over the next couple days. We still have posts scheduled, so make sure you check in.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the Beacon Family to yours!