#ThrowbackThursday: December 21, 2006

With permission, The Beacon is archiving past issues of Matthews Record (also called Matthews News and Record and The Matthews Record) articles online. Throwback Thursday articles will include relevant content still facing Matthews today. These stories were originally published December 21, 2006 and was written by Janet Denk.

Back in the day, a young black kid from Matthews had the choice of two high schools to attend - Second Ward or West Charlotte High, both in Charlotte. Harvey Boyd chose the latter for its art department. That choice would pay off, as Boyd became a skilled graphic artist who went on to attend Howard University, then later, travel and lives the good life. When he was 21 years old, “on a whim” Boyd entered a contest sponsored by the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Out of the seven finalists in the 1964 contest, Boyd’s work was selected to become the Mecklenburg County seal.

The County government is undergoing a logo redesign for branding purposes, but folks making the final decisions are intent on preserving the original design because it remains representative of the County nearly 50 years later.

The image on the seal includes four aspects of Mecklenburg County and it still holds up. “The seal is as relative today as it was back then,” said County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts. She, along with many others in the community, appreciate the origins of the seal design: that fresh out of the segregationist days of the old south, a young black kid from the country is selected by a powerful board of local leaders to document and preserve the history of the county.

“I thought I could contribute something,” the young man told the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners in 1964 after receiving the honor. He’s still trying to make a contribution, which is why he’s been before the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners to offer his consulting services, should the design team need a little help.

Boyd never received any royalties for his work, despite the fact that he owns the patent on the design. He doesn’t want his contribution to be in vain.

That’s not likely to happen, his supporters say. The fact that a County Seal can say so much, from a guy who could’ve claimed so little and have it last so long - is admirable.

“That says an awful lot about the spirit of this place,” explained Juan Williams, owner and operator of Queen City Tours  who’s given more than his fair share of history lessons to natives and tourists alike. “It’s part of what makes the history of this place so interesting to so many people.” The seal is on vehicles, stationery, websites, and government paperwork. Mecklenburg County Manager Harry Jones Sr. has assured folks that Boyd will be included in a logo redesign, should the need arise.

Landscape Consultations: A Handy Gift for the Gardener You Love

Photo by Charles Lybrand

If you’ve read my blog or taken one of my classes at Renfrow Farm, you know I usually mention landscape or garden consultations. I’ve been doing that for quite a few years, but it might possibly be new to you. In simple terms, a landscape consultation offers you an opportunity to get on-site advice about your lawn, trees & shrubs, your vegetable garden, even your home composter, and your rain barrels. And yes, we should all be composting lawn waste & kitchen scraps. I know there are a lot of good websites that offer excellent information about specific shrubs, trees, and flowers. If you’re more traditional in your approach to research, there are hundreds of books and magazines out there about landscape gardening. They give you lots of good information, too. But your home is a specific micro-climate, not a zone on a USDA map on the Internet. All these things are tools, not decision makers. They can’t be. As good as all of these tools are, and as talented and experienced as the authors are, they’ve never been to your home. They can’t. But I can. Here’s why I can help you.

Over the years, I’ve installed hundreds of gardens and visited hundreds more. I’ve had my hands in all kinds of soil from the sandy land of Carolina Beach to the rocky soils of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I’ve maintained commercial campuses and tiny backyards. All of these landscapes have one thing in common. I wanted to help folks enjoy the time they spend in the garden, whether it’s the busy person that just gets to spend a few minutes on the deck, or the person lucky enough to spend hours in the garden every day. I’m not arrogant enough to tell you that I succeeded every time, because I didn’t. But failure is a chance to learn more and more. Plus, I was fortunate enough to help folks enjoy their gardens most of the time.

Photo by Jeff Rieves

What do I mean when I say “enjoy your garden”? Just that – you really like to spend time on your garden. It can be for any reason. Simply that it looks good to you. It may be tailored to a hobby like a vegetable and fruit garden or herb garden. You may want a place to relax and unwind after a stressful day at work and a long commute. The dreams, and that’s what they are, can be as numerous and varied as the people who dream them. The landscapes around our homes are too often left to others to look after, so they reflect what others dream. Too often we don’t even really live in the place where our home IS. It doesn’t reflect who we are, so we just pass through it as we leave our home and head off to other places where we seem to want to be. We just don’t enjoy our garden or deck or lawn. Or we see it as more work in our busy lives. So we don’t enjoy it. But we should. And we can! And I can help you do that.

Photo by Jeff Rieves

Because of my 30+ years as a horticulturist, farmer, and NC Cooperative Extension agent, I have a lot of experience evaluating home and business landscapes. When I can stand in a yard and feel the Sun on my back, I know the questions to ask to determine if this is a really sunny spot or just a little morning sun. When I take a shovel full of soil and crumble it in my hands, I have pretty good idea of what needs to be added to that soil to grow a beautiful lawn or establish an oak tree for shade. That beautiful old plant that was a part of the Landscape when you bought the house? I can help you identify it. And that weird looking plant that’s so out of place by the foundation? It’s a weed that never got pulled and will take over if you don’t remove it.

I can stand at the street with you and see the view that you’ll see every day as you pull in the drive. We can sit in the living room or at the kitchen table, look out the French doors and visualize the garden you want to look at while you sip your morning coffee or enjoy that glass of wine after supper. That deck or patio you always wanted can be planned while we sit in that spot we picked out. We can lay out the vegetable/flower/herb garden using “The Living Garden” template that I created to help folks feed their bodies as well as their souls naturally.

As I say in my website, “In a one-hour consultation, I can solve problems, identify plants, generate new ideas, and give you more information than you could find on a website or at a garden center. I bring 30+ years of experience as a farmer, landscaper, and NC Extension agent to your home, along with a creative eye for design.”

“That’s all well and good”, I hear you saying, “but I have a limited budget for my landscaping”. Most folks do. And landscaping is a significant investment in time, labor, and money. Part of enjoying your garden is minimizing the troubles you have and optimizing the money you spend. I have seen so many mistakes in planting and hardscapes (and made some, too) that I can help you avoid those mistakes and save you money.

The bottom line is this. I hope you are enjoying your garden. I want everybody to enjoy their time outside as much as I do. If you aren’t, drop me a line, and let’s talk. If we decide that I can help you, then the sooner we get started, the sooner you begin to enjoy your garden. And THAT’S how you become a Successful Gardener!

Photo by Jeff Rieves

Morning Minute: Thursday, December 13, 2018

News About Town: The Town of Matthews recognized Michael Rusho, the recipient of the first annual Matthews Veteran of the Year award this past Monday at the Board of Commissioners meeting. Rusho was a career army man who, upon retiring in 1994, moved with his family to Matthews. He’s been involved with Boy Scouts of America, American Legion Post 235 (an active member for 24 years), and the Matthews Rotary Club. Mayor Paul Bailey recognized Rusho’s selfless dedication to the Matthews community and his ongoing leadership organizing the annual Rotary Veterans Day luncheon.

News Around Town: The Good Cup Coffee bus has been driving around Matthews serving up gratitude, hot coffee, and cocoa. On their Christmas tour around Matthews they’ve taken coffee and baked goods to the Matthews Library, ZABS, Cotton Gin Printing and Graphics, M&M Hardwood Flooring, and to a staff party for the Town. Follow them on Facebook to find out where they’ll park ‘n party next.

One Fun Thing: Haven’t had a chance to give your list to Santa yet? Looking for a chance to convince Santa to put you on the nice list? Santa is stopping by Brakeman’s tonight from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. to read a story and share some cookies. This is your chance to get on his good side.

Holiday Traditions at Windsor Run

Last Thursday, December 6, Windsor Run hosted a one-day event called Sharing Holiday Traditions Festival. Sponsored by the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the event was designed to highlight some of the resident’s experiences during the holiday season.

Among the nine displays were Sandy Schneiderman’s images of Chanukah; Judy Schaffer’s collection of Hershey ornaments; Margaret Corsier’s ornaments from the White House Historical Society, and Sharon Nank’s embroidery and appliqué work. Joy Rieves displayed the Santa’s sleigh she received as a one-year-old next to the photo taken of her, then, with this item.

This was an opportunity for people to get to know their fellow residents better and to see what memories and handed-down traditions they’ve kept during their lives.

“This is a way to share our tradition,” said Sandy, pressing the button on her dancing Chanukah/menorah dog, to the delight of passersby.

Windsor Run Retirement Community officially opened in May 2018. The two residence buildings, Dogwood Place and Sycamore Square, are now home to more than 230 residents. To meet the demand for its services and amenities, a third independent living residence, Beech Hollow, will open in 2019.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, December 12, 2018

News About Town: The Matthews Police Department is hiring people who are ready to work hard to keep the Town of Matthews safe. Applicants must be 21 years or older with a clean record and show evidence of financial responsibility. Must not have a history of substance abuse and be of good moral character. To see the full job listing, click here.

News Around Town: After one day off and a 2-hour delay the next (the worst hit schools remained closed), all CMS schools are back in regular session. The decision to close some schools and delay start for others was an unusual choice for CMS but reflective of the vastly different amounts of accumulated ice and snow within the school system boundary lines.

One Fun Thing: Let’s try this again. The pop-up shop was called off this past Saturday due to snow, and there’s a 50% chance of rain this Saturday, but we’re gonna try despite what the weather people say. Fingers crossed, we’ll be out at The Loyalist with Good Cup Coffee for our (second) second Hyperlocal Holiday Pop Up. Slurp soup inside at The Loyalist, then venture outside to sip a really Good Cup Coffee and stroll the pocket park to shop the handmade-wares of 18 local vendors! See you there, December 15, noon to 3 p.m., 435 North Trade St., Matthews.  

The menorahs were fully lit

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Last night was the final night of Chanukah. In homes and synagogues all over the world, menorahs were fully lit.

Fun fact: next Chanukah starts on Dec 22, 2019.

Matthews Gives Back with Covenant Day School

Photos by Cyma Shapiro

On Monday, at 9 a.m., 68 students from Covenant Day School in Matthews, and a few of the school’s teachers went to Target with the sole purpose of purchasing items for those in need during this holiday season. As in previous years of the CDS/Matthews Police Department partnership, they were accompanied by School Resource Officer Don Warren, who previously handed out approximately 40 cards identifying the wish lists of unnamed local children in need of gifts this season.

As part of the annual Matthews Gives Back program, the seventh graders were divided into small groups and assigned a child to buy gifts for. They eagerly scoured the isles with $100 in hand and the dictate to purchase appropriate gifts which will eventually be distributed by the Matthews Help Center. This fall, the class raised $3400 during the “Penny Wars,” a competition between homerooms, specifically for this event.

After shopping, the students are taken to the Crews Recreation Center to play games and eat lunch. They then wrap and deliver the gifts to the police department who, in turn, will deliver the final load to the Matthews Help Center.

“As teachers, we love watching the wheels turning in the students’ heads as they figure out how to stretch the money as far as possible,” said accompanying Covenant Day teacher Zach Turner. “We do not want them to just get one or two gifts - we want them to get as many as they are able to.  For the kids we are shopping for, this might be all they get under the tree, so we take that very seriously.”

This group is one of a number of local institutions, including Matthews United Methodist Church, the police department, and the Town of Matthews who will work toward a unified holiday support program.

“Each year, we’re just adding more community partners to [this],” said Matthews Help Center Director Sandra Conway. This year, the Help Center decided to “marshal our resources to make a bigger impact on the community,” she said.

To become a beneficiary of holiday gifts, families are screened by several local institutions before being chosen to visit Matthews Help Center’s “Holiday House,” where they can pick up toys for their children. Each family is given a budget for shopping and accompanying vouchers to do so, mirroring the experience they would have in a retail establishment. Last year, 374 children received presents.

Across town, students at Crestdale Middle School (among many others) are also doing their part by collecting toys and goods for local families in need. Officer Warren will pick up and transport those gifts to the Help Center as well.

“We’re just really excited to be a part of the Matthews community and give back in whatever way we can,” said Principal Jennifer Schroeder.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, December 11, 2017

News About Town: Matthews Board of Commissioners met with Planning and Administrative staff to discuss the Light Industrial zoning of the Stronghaven warehouse constructed in 1960 and located at 433 East John Street. The Board voted to begin the process of rezoning the property, a state-listed brownfield site, to R-12 Residential.

News Around Town: Despite minimal precipitation, the ice storm wreaked havoc around Matthews. According to the Duke Energy Outages page, there are still numerous power outages in Matthews. Several frustrated Beacon employees lost internet from downed lines, causing a lapse in Matthews news and bad Beacon puns for most of Monday.

One Fun Thing: This Thursday, December 13, take an evening to escape the holiday hustle and join Elinor Edvi-Miller, yogi and life coach, to find your state of mindfulness. The evening will consist of an interactive talk teaching practical and easy-to-use tips to pave your way into mindfulness. Matthews Community Center, Room 104, 100 McDowell Street, 7:30-9 p.m.

Morning Minute:Monday, December 10, 2018

News About Town: We discussed tonight’s council meeting on the Morning Minute this past Friday. This evening at 5:30, prior to the regular meeting, Commissioners will meet to discuss zoning for the box supply storage warehouse on East John St. (433 East John St., zoned I-1 Light Industrial). Currently there is no zoning action filed with the town for the property. The property owner, Hood Container Corp., is currently redesigning the entrance and loading docks toward the Charles St side of the property.

The meeting is scheduled to give councilmembers a chance to learn about taking action on “straight zoning” (no conditions associated with the zoning code) properties within Matthews.

News Around Town: The Snow and ice felled trees all over Matthews yesterday causing accidents and power outages. Duke Energy reports thousands in Matthews and more than 51,000 people without power in Mecklenburg County. Duke Energy has around 9,000 employees prepared to resolve power issues. Fallen trees were reported on Courtney Lane, Sam Newell, Matthews Township Parkway, and Rice Road. A tree that fell on John Street caused a vehicular crash that resulted in the death of the driver and minor injuries for the passenger.

One Fun Thing: With the holidays in full swing we’ve been in the mood to give gifts. Friday we announced a giveaway for Facebook friends: a 2019 calendar (made with illustrations by Beacon co-founder Renee), a Beacon mug for use specifically while catching up with your favorite Matthews news, and a laser-cut snowflake ornament that delicately catches the light just so. Stay tuned for another giveaway coming up later this week for newsletter readers! 

Winner Winner Beacon Dinner

There’s actually no dinner involved, but we’re having a giveaway on our Facebook page! Mull on this: the lucky winner will be able to enjoy the morning Beacon with their coffee in a Beacon-branded coffee mug every morning. So worth it.

Meal Planning around the Farmers' Market

Photo by Norah Burke

The Matthews Community Farmers Market has switched to winter hours, but there’s still plenty of fresh local produce to plan your week around. I stopped by with my two oldest hooligans this past Saturday looking for inspiration for the coming week. I scored an Instant Pot on Black Friday, so I’m eager to experiment with new recipes in my new toy.

Lest you think life in the Burke household is Pinterest perfect, my plans were scratched twice this week for pasta on Tuesday and Happy Meals on Thursday. Meal planning is great, but in a house as hectic as ours, flexibility is key. I also live for simple recipes that take almost no time to prepare, cook with minimal supervision, and are unlikely to be rejected by my picky eaters.

The Farmers Market Fresh Ingredients:

1 Whole Chicken, Mustard Greens, Kale, Mixed lettuce, Carrots, Bell Peppers, Butternut Squash

Photo by Norah Burke

The Plan:

Saturday: Chili & Cornbread

Dare I share my top secret chili recipe? For this one I used fresh bell peppers from the market. I “cheated” on the cornbread by using a mix.

Sunday: Teriyaki Chicken, Rice, Vegetable Medley

My first Instant Pot recipe of the week. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can make this recipe by marinating defrosted chicken in the sauce and baking it for ~30 minutes (consult safe cooking temperatures for chicken), or by cutting the chicken into chunks and sautéing in the sauce on the stovetop. I used a recipe from Keeping it Simple Crafts, but my family agreed the sauce was too sweet, so next time I’ll return to my own teriyaki sauce recipe:

• ½ cup soy sauce

• 2-3 Tablespoons honey

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 2 teaspoons ginger

• ½ Tablespoon garlic powder (or 2-3 fresh cloves, minced)

Monday: Ham & Bean Soup with Mustard Greens

Our second night in the IP. I worked from Sweet and Savory Meals’ Ham and Bean Soup recipe.

As it looked to make a LOT of soup, I halved everything. I’m not a huge soup fan, and I didn’t want to end up with a fridge full of leftovers if this was a flop. This recipe used Farmer’s Market peppers and carrots in the soup itself, and I topped it with sautéed mustard greens, also from the market. The soup was good, albeit a little thin (I guess I have a preference for stews), and the mustard greens were spicy and delicious.

Photo by Norah Burke

Tuesday: Tacos – To Pasta Night

One of those days where my husband and I are overworked, overtired, and getting colds. So plans were scrapped in favor of boiling a pot of noodles and sauce.

Wednesday: Meatloaf, Squash

I love squash. It’s my favorite winter vegetable (I’m sure some will argue that it’s not a vegetable. But it’s orange, so I’m making it count). I like to cut a squash in half, remove the seeds, and roast it at 350 degrees in a pan cut side down with 1/2” of water for 45 minutes. Then I flip it over, add a tablespoon of brown sugar and a pat of butter, and roast for another 15 minutes. Incidentally, the timing makes it a perfect companion for my meatloaf, which also takes an hour to cook.

Norah’s Super Kid Friendly No-Gross-Chunks Meatloaf:

• 1 lb ground beef (I use 93/7)

• 1/3 cup bread crumbs (I use Progresso Italian style)

• 1 Egg

• 1 Tablespoon onion powder

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• If using lean ground beef: 1 – 2 Tablespoons of olive oil

• Combine all ingredients (don’t overmix), form into a loaf shape and bake in a pan (not a loaf pan, I leave it freestanding in a 6x9 glass pan) at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Refer to safe cooking temperatures to make sure it’s done.

Thursday: Leftovers to Fast food

Another one of those days, but now the cold has set in, and all the food has been so good we don’t have enough leftovers for everyone. So I took two of my children out to look at holiday lights around town and pick up Happy Meals.

Friday: Pork Roast, Braised Kale, Sweet potatoes

Using the last of my farmer’s market vegetables, tonight I’ll be braising some kale and serving it with mashed sweet potatoes and roasted pork.

That’s the week! Barring a snowstorm, I’ll be headed to the market tomorrow morning to find more fresh, local inspiration for a week of dinner.

Olympics STEM Excitement for Matthews Students

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

On Thursday afternoons at the Matthews Elementary School, 18 fourth- and fifth-grade students meet to learn new techniques, gain knowledge, foster teamwork, and work together.

By the excitement, alone, one might believe they are gearing up for an upcoming traditional sports event. However, in this case, sports uniforms are nowhere to be found. Instead, this group is employing preparation, commitment, speed, dexterity, knowledge, fortitude, passion, application and focus in the hope that they may place in next year’s (May) North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) competition. They are the only elementary school in Matthews participating in this sport.  

Make no mistake - the whoops, hollers, excitement level and words of encouragement emanating from this classroom would belie the best of a Friday night football game; this group is clearly here to win. And, like all sports, the emphasis remains on the overall team effort - to work through a series of competitions consisting of different hands-on, interactive, challenging and inquiry-based team events involving biology, earth science, environmental science, chemistry, physics, mechanical engineering and technology toward an end-goal.

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

“They already have a natural love of science,” says fifth-grade Elementary Math and Science teacher, Jamie Worth, who is also the group’s “coach.” Now in her sixth year of running a group, she adds, “my job is to (also help them) have the most fun.”

To be included here, fourth and fifth graders must submit an essay and receive a recommendation by their homeroom teacher. The best essays and recommendations result in being chosen for the group. This year, the team is primarily girls - 14 of 18 participants. While Jamie can’t quite explain this phenomenon, the opportunity is not lost on her as a “female teacher getting more female involvement,” fostering “more girl scientists…This is the year of the girls,” she adds. “I am excited to lead a team with a way different dynamic than ever before!”

For Hadley, now in her third year of NCSO, she’s here “because I like science. My mom is a biology teacher. I like being part of a team and trying new things…I hope to shape my career out of it.”

Addie, also in her third year of participation, said being given a challenge and participating in the events provides excitement and a sense of camaraderie.

And, Amelia added, besides the requisite essay and recommendations, she believes the teacher picks the participants who are the greatest “team players.”

It is an approach which offers education, competition, and opportunities for working together. “Those kids who give the best effort, are willing to work hard, and stay positive,” said Jamie, “are picked. It’s not (necessarily) the smartest children.”

On this particular day, the second week of the session, the “Duct Tape – Build a Boat” challenge required students to “design and float a boat that holds the most marbles.” Within seconds, each student began excitedly creating their structure. One by one, they placed their boats in the water. The majority sank, with an overflow of design “holes.” But, the overall intent was to teach buoyancy and surface area - a valuable lesson which clearly showed that intention and creativity, alone, do not necessarily equate to success.

“Who cares if you fail the first (time),” said Jamie. “Make a plan, make it better. Do better. I think most were more than willing to update their designs based on what they saw worked and didn’t.  The students are natural observers so they could easily figure out a new and better approach,” she said.

In the end, most participants realize that patience, diligence, and perseverance will go a long way to achieving the end goal.

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

“These kids don’t realize how hard this is,” said Jamie, referencing the fact that the younger 4th graders are often disappointed with not learning all the concepts and/or losing during final competition, compelling them to return the following year with a greater hunger and passion to win.

To train for the final event, students attend the weekly classes and are required to study for approximately one hour per week. Within the group, students may choose three of 18 competitions offered with such categories as “ProGamers,” “Weather Permitting” and “Pasta Tower.”  In many instances, the questions and categories reflect classroom work already being mandated (and taught) by the North Carolina Course of Study (grades 2-6).

In addition, parents often volunteer their time to coach for one event and are involved in supporting their students outside of practice, as well.

To help participants prepare, Jamie creates a different study guide for each student. This will be the basis of their year-long study.  The work demands logical and critical-thinking skills, retention and a greater understanding of all the basic concepts. “I remember how difficult it was,” Jamie said. “It’s not an easy thing to do!”

This past May, at the finals, some Matthews children placed in events and others medaled; the group also won the NCSO’s (regional) Spirit Award given for the best sportsmanship, collaboration, and teamsmanship – an award Jamie says she’ll take “any day.”  She hopes to again win this award in 2019. “We spend more time building a team than teaching,” said Jamie.”

Having participated in NCSO during eigth grade, at Northeast Middle School in Charlotte, Jamie sees this as an extension of her own life and her own passion. She has a fervent her desire to foster more interest in these fields.  “It doesn’t look like I’m in the science field, but here I am analyzing data and doing things scientists do!” she said. “I want students to realize that science doesn’t just mean a person with a lab coat. It can be anyone.”

NCSO is a nonprofit organization with a mission to attract and retain K-12 students entering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees and careers in North Carolina. In 2018, more than 980 K-12 teams representing over 18,000 students and 85 counties in North Carolina participated in NCSO activities.

Morning Minute: Friday, December 7, 2018

News About and Around Town: There is a Board of Commissioners meeting this Monday, and it’s overflowing with agenda items. At 5:30, before the actual meeting, Commissioners will meet to discuss zoning for the warehouse property on East John St.

Following the discussion, at 6 PM, is a reception honoring Planning Director Kathi Ingrish, who is retiring this year.

During the regular Council meeting, the floor will be open for public comment on several rezoning applications. Application 2018-691 is for a mixed-use development which will include 121 townhomes on three acres at Idlewild and I-485. One property on West John is an application to rezone a residential lot, R-20, to office, O(CD). A third rezoning item, 2018-693, is simply to update the land use code for several properties in Crestdale to match the current Unified Develpment Ordinance.

The Board may vote on several items on Monday, including rezoning property on the Novant Hospital Campus to allow for office building construction. The Small Area Plan Overlays are back, the Board will once again have the opportunity to approve or deny the plans.

Beyond planning, the agenda contains fairly typical meeting items but there are a few worth noting. When NCDOT begins Independence Blvd improvements it will be up to the town to choose and fund pedestrian/bicycling improvements through the corridor. The Board will discuss this Monday night. They will consider the John Street Working Group's design and decide for or against adoption. Another item up for consideration is the 2019 Legislative Agenda, which lays out the expectations of the Town’s role in governing in tandem with the NC General Assembly. 

One Fun Thing: If it’s not snowin’-up-a-storm this Saturday, we’ll be out at The Loyalist (435 North Trade St.) with Good Cup Coffee for our second Hyperlocal Holiday Pop Up of the season! Warm up with a bowl of The Loyalist’s legend(wait for it)ary soup, then stroll the pocket park in the side yard and shop handmade-wares while sipping on the tummy warming goodness of Good Cup cocoa. 

Secret Santa on Patrol

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

During this past Saturday’s monthly Matthews United Methodist Church Methodist Men’s breakfast, the group gifted “Secret Santa” money to the Matthews Police Department.

“This is a great event – donating money to the community,” said Police Chief Clark Pennington. “Those types of partnerships are what it’s all about and are important to us.”

The event was started four years ago when the group’s President, Marshall Edwards, saw a video on national news referencing another “Secret Santa,” event Kansas City. Thinking it was a great idea, Marshall called his friend, then Police Chief Rob Hunter, and asked permission to create this opportunity.

The first year, they raised $1600. This year, the group is donating $4000. “This is a gift of community, a gift to law enforcement and an opportunity to take away negative press” (about police-persons), said Pennington.

According to Patrol Captain Stason Tyrrell, Matthews is pushing ahead of most surrounding communities, who do not offer a community Secret Santa event.

This year, patrol officers will give $100 to 40 families – a small fraction of the recipients will be specifically identified prior to receiving the money; the remainder will be gifted on the street. All of this will be captured on officers’ body cams and a select few videos will be shared at another MUMC breakfast in early 2019.

“I see this as a positive image,” said Penington, “since (our) image has declined nationwide.” This is a positive sign of giving, a positive sign of a ministry and a great opportunity.”

According to Patrol Captain Stason Tyrrell, Matthews is pushing ahead of most surrounding communities, who do not offer this event. “This is great for the officers,” he said. “They want to help and to serve our community in the best way they can,” adding that officers keep tools and even gas cans in their patrol cars in an effort to help residents in need.

“It’s a win-win situation,” said the Chief.

Morning Minute: Thursday, December 6, 2018

News About Town: The Town of Matthews Parks and Rec department is hosting a community information session about the seven mile stretch of the confusingly named Four Mile Creek Greenway. Stop by any time during the event to review the long-term greenway study with both the town and county park and rec departments. Wednesday, December 12, 6:00-7:30 PM in the Hood Room, Matthews Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station St.

News Around Town: Yesterday (Wednesday, December 5) the CMS Board of Education hosted their first Municipal Education Advisory Committee meeting. MEAC was formed to foster better communication between the school board and individual town boards after mounting tension peaked this past August. Commissioner Jeff Miller is representing Matthews on the committee. Data was presented during the initial meeting covering growth trends and financial investments for individual municipalities within CMS. If you would like to see and hear what was discussed, the meeting was (and future meetings will be) broadcast on Facebook Live and is available to watch here.

One Fun Thing: It’s time again for Family Fun Night at Crews Recreation Center on Friday, December 7th from 6 to 9 PM! Santa will stop by from 6:00-7:30 PM to hear everyone’s wish lists. After Santa’s visit is movie time with a showing of Disney's A Christmas Carol. For those needing extra incentive, food, drinks, and snacks will be provided and the event is free! Friday, December 7, 6-9 PM, Crews Recreation Center, 1201 Crews Road.