Take Me To Your Leaders: Meet the Assistant Town Manager

This post is Part III of a series explaining the roles of our leadership within municipal government. Part I: Meet your commissioners, Part II: Meet your mayor , Part III: Meet the Town Manager

As explained in previous Take Me To Your Leaders posts, Matthews operates as a municipal government with council-manager leadership. Assistant Town Manager Becky Hawke supports and assists Town Manager Hazen Blodgett on a variety of town administrative tasks such as town-wide planning, special projects, and initiatives. Also serving as a back-up for the Town Manager, Ms. Hawke acts to fill Mr. Blodgett's seat in his absence.

What is the Assistant Town Manager's role? The Assistant Town Manager is part of the senior management team for the Town of Matthews. Ms. Hawke provides oversight and establishes standards with department heads of Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Safety/Risk Management, Communications, Fire/EMS, Police, Public Works, Parks and Rec, and Planning. Ms. Hawke also serves as staff liaison to the Town of Matthews Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC).

Who is the Town of Matthews Assistant Town Manager? Becky Hawke has served in local government for more than a decade and has been the assistant town manager for the Town of Matthews since 2016. Ms. Hawke pursued extensive education to prepare her for a role in municipal management. She earned an undergraduate B.A. in Communication Studies (minor in Sociology) from Hollins University, an M.S. in Corporate and Public Communication from Radford University, and a graduate certificate in Human Resources Management from Cornell University. She is also a graduate of the Public Executive Leadership Academy (PELA) of UNC-Chapel Hill. She retains active membership in several professional organizations including the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the North Carolina City County Managers Association (NCCCMA).

In 2018 Ms. Hawke was recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in the greater Mecklenburg County region by the Mecklenburg Times and one of the 25 Most Powerful Women by the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly.

Ms. Hawke further serves the community as the Vice-President (2019 President-elect) of the Matthews Chamber of Commerce. She also sits on the boards of the Matthews HELP Center and Red Brick Partnership, is a member of the Matthews Rotary Club, and is a volunteer with dog rescue groups.

At home Ms. Hawke has a menagerie of pets, all of which are rescues. Among them are Titan (the blind 200-pond mastiff), Tank (a ridiculously-rotten English Bulldog), and four cats (Jenna, Ninja Cat, Geronimo, and Houdini).

According to Ms. Hawke, “Geronimo earned his name and gained local notoriety in Southwest Virginia in 2008 when, as a tiny stray kitten, he survived jumping off an eight-story tall bridge and landing in the parking lot below. I was working for the city where it happened and was able to adopt him prior to the ensuing media coverage. He isn't, perhaps, the sharpest cat but is otherwise perfectly healthy.”

Let's all play dreidel

A handcrafted dreidel collection displayed every year for Chanukah.

Photographs by Cyma Shapiro

According to dictionary.com, there are so many variations for the spelling of Chanukah simply because it’s difficult to translate from Hebrew to English. One researcher, Joe Maller, supposes there are 16 ways to spell Chanukah according to Google hits. Those spellings range from Hanukkah (the most popular with 8,470,000 hits) and Chanukah (3,390,000 hits) to Chanuqa with only 25 hits.

Seela Salon: Opening Doors to All

When clients come to the Seela Salon in Matthews, they are often stepping into a veritable United Nations with a decidedly Middle Eastern slant. Although known as the only Matthews salon which caters to Middle Easterners, owner Abeer Badran’s clients come from all over (with some from as far as Virginia) and represent a host of countries, regions, and locales.

Abeer, 46, of Waxhaw, is the mother of 10-year-old twin boys and a 22-year-old daughter (the salon’s name is her daughter’s nickname). During the course of any day, she often mentions her husband and/or children or takes phone calls from them, prompting discussions about various family situations.

To that, most women clients look up in amusement, clearly understanding the trials and tribulations of family life which trump any particular ethnicity or origin.

The Road to Matthews

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

For Abeer, coming to the Charlotte area/US in 1993 to marry her husband, is another indicator of how much family and tradition are intertwined in her life. Her Palestinian-born, now American-citizen husband and his extended family have been here since the 1950s.

“I love Matthews myself,” she said. “It’s in the middle of everywhere. I love Matthews people. (They) are so open-minded, they are family-minded people,” said Abeer.

“(Here) nobody can tell me what to do; I’m my own boss,” she says with a smile, proudly adding that it’s not just hair services, but nail and skincare which encompass her business. The Middle Eastern applications are foot and hand baths, and threading.

The Seela Experience

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Now in Seela’s fourth year in Matthews, for the Jordanian-born Abeer the interior design, and the entire operation are something she is enormously proud of. Inside the salon, instead of just listening to popular American music, clients are often entertained by the sounds of Radio Jordan (from the country of Jordan). Instead of just talking amongst themselves, they are often amused by Abeer spontaneously doing a watered-down version of the belly dance – “shaking and exercising,” as she calls it.

She takes pride in the salon décor she’s carefully chosen – a mixture of Middle Eastern lamps and furniture with signs and whimsical designs. She says the look reflects her personal style and can also be found in her own home. “This is the nice thing…a lot of the time, people say it’s so homey. They’re comfortable here,” she says with deep satisfaction.

“Many clients know nothing about the Middle East. This is a subject I can talk a lot about. We talk about Hijabs (head coverings), for example, and why I’m not wearing one. It helps a lot for people to understand more about Middle Easterners and not be scared.”

— Abeer Badran

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Sharing Cultures

While most clients are more than accepting of Abeer’s heritage and homeland, over the years, she’s seen a few who appear not to be comfortable, and have chosen not to return. Any conversations which might become personal, religious or political, she says she gently turns the conversations into teachable moments regarding various facets of her culture.

“Many clients know nothing about the Middle East,” she says. “This is a subject I can talk a lot about – clients get educated….We talk about Hijabs (head coverings), for example, and why I’m not wearing one. It helps a lot for people to understand more about Middle Easterners and not be scared.”

Ultimately, her salon is her home; and in that way, she has opened the doors to all.

“(I like) the comfort level that clients have. They’re comfortable,” said Abeer. “This is what I wanted to do. This is what I’m meant to do.”

Morning Minute: Wednesday, December 5, 2018

 

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners Mini Planning Conference is coming up this Friday and Saturday (December 7 – 1:00 PM  til 7 PM and December 8 from 8 AM til 1 PM) in the Hood Room of Town Hall. The Board of Commissioners and Town Staff will check in on items from the previous Planning Conference, review town demographics, discuss the vision of and possible property acquisition for expanding Stumptown Park, refine roles for town committees, discuss branding and aesthetics throughout the town, consider expanding parking measures such as a parking deck, and review the town Code of Ethics. The meeting is open to the public but there will be no portion for public comment.

News About Town: According to an SEC filing and The Charlotte Observer, after the September announcement to close their Family Dollar headquarters in Matthews, Dollar Tree offered 700 employees the opportunity to transfer to Virginia with the company. Nearly 500 of those employees declined the offer.

One Fun Thing: This Saturday, December 8, from 12 PM to 3 PM we’re co-hosting another Hyperlocal Pop-Up Market with Good Cup Coffee and The Loyalist. Join the Matthews Beacon and 15 local artists, craftsmen, food vendors, and small businesses in the pocket park at The Loyalist (435 North Trade Street #102, Matthews). Stop in The Loyalist for a hearty bowl of the best soup in town, then head outside to sip on Good Cup Coffee and shop with a few of our Hyperlocal Gift Guide participants. This is a great opportunity to support some of our areas most talented movers, shakers, and makers.

Meet Your Neighbors: Canine Edition

A drive around town will find any number of dog owners and their pets contentedly walking the byways, as the Matthews Beacon found during one 72 hour period...

Matthews resident, Susan Morris,  72, holding 11-year-old poodle, Tippa, on a cold brisk early morning walk. “She was nosing my leg because she was tired,” said Susan before picking her up.

MoRa resident, Noel Lance, 41, makes it a point to drive to Matthews at least once/week to walk 10-month-old Black Mouth Cur, Winston (Winny), around town. Lance says it’s a way to alter the scenery and get coffee, too. “I love the small town feel,” said Lance, echoing so many others. 

Ricki Crowder, 33, of Matthews, with nine-month-old Great Pyrenees, Lyra, during an especially cold, gloomy day. Although Lyra is walked about one mile each morning and each late afternoon, this early afternoon walk had everything to do with a break in the weather.   "We've been stuck inside with rain for the past few days," said Ricki. "I wanted to get out some energy while the skies were clear." 

Elaine Berton, 37, on her normal morning walk with six-year-old Bullmastiff, Shelby. “It’s a great way to start my day,” said Elaine, “and she loves it!”

Brakeman's Coffee: A Sharing Space

(L to R) Mark Moore, David Johnson, & Dave Braysden Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Last winter, in an overture of friendship and community, the owners of Brakeman’s (David Johnson, Mark Moore, and Dave Baysden) placed an enormous menorah in the front of the building, loaned by the group at ZABS. “The foundation was friendship and trust,” said David.

“I was into the power(ful) story of Chanukah,” said Mark. “It was an opportunity for the Christian community to understand the power of the story.” They also hosted an opening lighting ceremony with ZABS folks providing narrative to the lighting.

“We wanted a space that was life-giving...How do we make sure that this space is embraced by everybody?”

— David Johnson

“We wanted a place that was ecumenical in its approach,” said David, explaining the vision for Brakeman’s. “We wanted a space that was life-giving. We’re not rooted in making money. How do we make sure that this space is embraced by everybody?”

“This is a place where people can share their story, tell their stories – whether it’s religious, personal or otherwise,” he said. “Those are the things we (try to support).”

Morning Minute: Tuesday, December 4, 2018

News About Town: The sixth meeting of the John Street Working Group will be held on Wednesday, December 5 at 6:15 p.m. at Matthews Town Hall. The group will review the results of the survey, which included questions about the original plan, a desired plan, and the consensus design. The working group will also discuss possible next steps.

News Around Town: Way2GoClt, a project founded by Sustain Charlotte and now operating in partnership with Charlotte Area Transit System, rewards you for taking alternate modes of transportation to work. Rather than commuting, take the bus and sign onto Way2GoClt, log your mode of transportation and get points. Each time you log on and record your mode of travel (other than single-driver commuting) you earn points to trade in for rewards.

Why participate? Matthews residents consider traffic a problem and what’s better than a fun solution to a problem? In the 2017 Citizen Satisfaction Survey for Matthews, 62.1% of participants selected “Traffic” as one of the biggest issues in the future; down from 73.9% in 2015.

One Good Thing: If you’re looking for a way to give back to the community this year, area nonprofits and town agencies have you covered. Donate an unwrapped toy or gift suitable for kids up to age 18 to the Matthews Gives Back for the Holidays drive. Drop-off locations include: Matthews HELP Center, Matthews United Methodist Church Matthews Town Hall, Matthews Community Center Matthews Fire Department, and Matthews Police Department.

Aging Tree Canopy

If residents think they are noticing an increase in fallen trees around town this year, they are correct.

According to Ralph Ramsaur, Town of Matthews Landscape Manager and Town Arborist, the increase is due both to the recent hurricane and excessive wind and rain – “big storm events,” he termed it. “Trees in low-lying areas can fall after a lot of rain. Many times, there is a good percentage of decay and signs of old age in the fallen trees.”

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Recently, a decayed tree took down a pole and fence near the Fire Department. Other downed trees were found within a number of subdivisions and on Weddington Road.  Areas with older trees which are most susceptible include Stumptown and Squirrel Lake Parks.

According to Ramsaur, some recommendations for safety and maintenance include: having trees inspected professionally and having homeowners walk their property to take a closer look at their surrounding trees. Among the signs to watch out for: fungus, giant mushroom type-growth around the base of a tree, and an increase in black carpenter ants or termites. Also, if you look up at a tree and don’t see any leaves at the top, this may also signal decay.

Among the tools that arborists/tree professionals may use is a “resistograph” - a fine drill that goes into the tree to test resistance, providing a percentage of tree decay. If a tree shows more than 35-40%, that tree should be removed, according to Ramsaur.

Photo by Linda Edwards/White Rock Studio

“The trees in Matthews are a part of its character. These are old Matthews trees that have been here since Matthews was founded.”

— Linda Edwards

For Judi Bex, owner of property on West McDowell Street, and Linda and Joe Edwards of White Rock Studio on South Trade Street, more than a few trees have fallen between them; all had to be professionally removed.  These are beautiful old trees,” said Bex. “(This) is the price of owning a home.”

But, the downing of such trees is bittersweet for long-time residents such as the Edwards, who have watched their (same) surrounding foliage for more than 35 years. “The trees in Matthews are a part of its character. These are old Matthews trees that have been here since Matthews was founded,” said Linda. “We’re going to miss the shade so much. It’s almost like a part of Matthews history has gone away.”

However, while something familiar is now gone, it has been replaced by a something new. “I have sun coming through where I didn’t know there was sun!” exclaimed Linda.

Turning a New Leaf

I’ve been “up on the mountain”, as the locals refer to the part of Patrick County, VA, where my mother lives, giving thanks for the gifts in our lives, and helping Ma with some winter lawn and garden chores. One of those tasks is collecting fallen leaves and twigs for compost and mulch.

Leaves are a great source of organic matter and nutrients. According to Texas A & M University, leaves contain 50 to 80 percent of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil and air during the season. That’s a lot of free fertilizer! In addition, the leaves will provide a lot of food for bacteria, fungi, earthworms and all the other critters that live in the soil. This creates a healthy soil in which your plants will thrive.

Photo courtesy Jeff Rieves

One of the simplest ways to utilize the leaves that fall in your yard is to use them where they fall. Leaves make great mulch for all kinds of plants. One look at a forest floor will tell you that. If the volume of leaves that fall is too great for the area, or if they might smother the plants if left untended, you could rake the leaves into shallow windrows and mow them, blowing them back into the bed or into a pile for later use. Chopping them like this can reduce the volume by 50% or more. A bagger would be handy to collect the shredded leaves for use in other areas. That’s what we’ve done for the last couple of years “on the mountain” with some success, depending on the weather and the mower we have available. Wet weather slows things down, because the leaves tend to stick together and bog down the mower. A dry fall results in a dusty chore, but does make it easier to collect your leaves.

Another way to use your leaves is in the compost pile. Leaves are a great source of nutrients for the decomposers that create compost for your garden. Shredding them is not necessary, but will reduce the volume and speed up the creating of your homegrown fertilizer. A simple wire cage at least 3 feet high and as wide as you can handle will contain the leaves and keep them from blowing around your yard all winter. Adding a little “green” (nitrogen bearing material) will heat the pile up, as the critters in your pile do their best to provide you with a great soil building product.

You can build a garden “from the ground up” by using an old method that has become new again. “Lasagna Gardening” is a method that uses leaves that are simply piled on the ground and left to rot. This is technically called sheet composting, but it allows you to build your beds by placing the leaves wherever you need or want a new flower/vegetable bed. Many gardeners use newspapers or cardboard to smother any weeds that might sprout through the leaf bed. Leave the organic material in place over a period of time (usually 3-6 months) and the newspaper/cardboard/leaf mixture will have decomposed enough to plant into. If you are in a hurry, you can create pockets of soil in the mix and plant directly into that.

So this fall, turn over a new leaf and keep all your leaves instead of bagging them up for curb collection. You (and your plants) will be glad you did!

Morning Minute: Monday, December 3, 2018

News About Town: Running pipe under Rice Road (part of the park construction) is taking longer than anticipated. The road will remain closed for the morning and afternoon as the contractor finishes the installation.  Local traffic still has access to their homes, but through traffic should detour. The road is expected to reopen by 5 PM.

Drivers are instructed to continue to use Williams Road and Sam Newell Road as the alternate routes until the road reopens.

News Around Town: In strange political news, the State Board of Elections has voted not to certify the 9th District race between Mark Harris (R) and Dan McCready (D). Irregularities in absentee ballots in Bladen and Robeson county have generated concern over the possibility of voter fraud. The BOE is exploring options, including the possibility of sending the race back to the polls for a do-over.

Punny cards by Lellow Lolly

One Fun Thing: The Brace Family YMCA, 3127 Weddington Rd, is hosting Christmas on Main Street today from 9 AM til 6 PM . Through the halls and foyer, you’ll have a chance to shop for unique holiday gifts. Be on the lookout for Lellow Lolly’s colorfully fun and inspirational illustrated prints and cards.

Celebrating Chanukah

According to Wikipedia, Chanukah/Hanukkah (also called Festival of Lights or Festival of Dedication) is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. 

Chanukah begins this evening, December 2, 2018, and ends on December 10, 2018. The dates of the holiday shift each year due to the differences between the Hebrew and Gregorian calendars. On the Hebrew calendar Chanukah begins on the 24th of Kislev and ends on the 2nd or 3rd Tevet.

Significance: The Maccabees successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. According to the Talmud, the Temple was purified and the wicks of the menorah miraculously burned for eight days, even though there was only enough sacred oil for one day's lighting.

For those of you celebrating this sacred Holiday, the Beacon wishes you a Happy Chanukah.