Morning Minute: Thursday, January 24, 2019

News About Town: If you’re a Matthews resident who has been looking for a way to be more involved with the town, apply to be a member of the Appearance & Tree Advisory Committee. The committee meets the third Monday of every month (7 p.m. at the Community Center) with staff liaison (and Master Arborist) Ralph Ramsaur. The group discusses landscape beautification, visual characteristics, and ways to create a greener, more aesthetically pleasing town. They have openings for a few more people. Send your application (online here) to Lori Canapinno, Town Clerk.

The Tree and Appearance Advisory Board is partly responsible for some of the gorgeous gardens around town.

News Around Town: Ashley HomeStore licensee Broad River Retail announced plans to open a HomeStore Outlet in the former Capel Rug Outlet store (9632 E Independence Blvd.). Just down the road, Discount Tire has requested rezoning at the former Tilted Kilt location (1625 Windsor Square), which has been vacant since 2015. The tire retail chain would like to raze the current building to construct a new store. In 2018 the ABC Board applied to rezone the site but was denied. Since the ABC Board was denied rezoning within the last 12 months, Discount Tire must request special permission from the Planning Board to apply for rezoning.

One Fun Thing: If you missed tickets to the Town Valentine Dance, there’s other fun to be had. Brakeman’s (225 N Trade St.) is hosting their 2nd annual Daddy Daughter Valentine's Date Night. This year you can choose between February 8 and 15, with tea times starting at 5:30 and 7 pm both days. The tickets are $10 each and are available at the register. Space is limited so get yours ASAP.

At the Bus Stop: Understanding Public Transit in Matthews

Park and Ride center at Indpendence Pointe Parkway.

The average commute time for a Matthews resident is 27.9 minutes. With a healthy economy and relatively inexpensive gas prices, it’s common to find one person per car commuters. There are, however, less stressful ways to get around. Public transportation is one such way.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) runs the public transportation program for the greater Charlotte area. With more than 70 routes, CATS links Uptown Charlotte to the suburbs seven days a week. Below are routes connecting to Matthews.

27 Monroe Road, runs from Uptown Charlotte down John Street in Matthews, on down Trade to loop around at Target.

51 Pineville-Matthews Road runs the length of Pineville-Matthews to the Independence Pointe Parkway Park and Ride. This route also provides service to the Levine Campus of CPCC.

52x Idlewild Road Express runs Independence to the northern most corner of Matthews, at Idlewild Road and Margaret Wallace (this stop is on the Charlotte Side of Idlewild).

64x Independence Blvd. Express, an express bus that runs down Independence to Matthews and back to Uptown.

65x Matthews Express, which runs from Uptown, down John to Trade, up Independence Pointe Parkway (at Target) and down Sam Newell to Independence Pointe Parkway.

Bus stop on Trade Street in downtown Matthews.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, January 23, 2019

News About Town: It feels a little early to think about summer, but registration opens Friday, February 1, for Park and Rec Summer Camps. With a full array of camps for kids ages 4-16 and relatively affordable tuition, these camps fill up fast. Themes include arts, science, design, and even magic; there’s something for every interest. See the brochure for more information.

News Around Town: The Stronghaven paper storage warehouse at 433 E John St. has been shuttered. The original brick warehouse was built in 1960 and the metal addition was constructed in the early 80s. The building is a holding space for rolls of blank paper, soon to be sent to the Stronghaven factory on Monroe Road where it is made into boxes for national brands such as Build-a-Bear and Dominos.We have no further details on the closing, aside from the sign on the door from the Fire Marshal posted Tuesday morning.

One Fun Thing: Mark your calendar for the next HAWK meeting, Tuesday, February 5. Kim O'Shea, beekeeper, archaeologist and master gardener will change the way you see bees. Her own videos and photos provide a unique glimpse into the way bees interact with their surroundings. Kim will explain methods for gardening for and with bees through year-round sustainable practices. 7 p.m. at the Community Center.

2810[top]5: Hot Coffee Spots

If our morning newsletter references didn’t give it away, I’m going to share a big secret today: We are a coffee powered organization here at the Beacon. Today we’re here to share five spots that keep the Beacon fueled.

Good Cup Coffee Co., 105 N. Trade Street (at the Farmer’s Market and pop-ups elsewhere). The Chopas family makes delicously unique coffee drinks you won’t find anywhere else in the area. It counts as a meeting to follow Norah around while she does her weekly shopping, right?

Photo via Good Cup

Dilworth Coffee,

3016 Weddington Rd #600. We’ve had more than one meeting here. The vibe is cozy and the staff is friendly, and the coffee isn’t pretentious.

Photo via Dilworth Coffee

Your Mom’s Donuts, 11025 Monroe Rd, Ste F. Another spot where we often meet, lots of room, not too loud, and the coffee is great. Plus: donuts.

Photo via Your Mom’s Donuts

Magnolia Coffee. Their tasting room is in Matthews but isn’t open to the public yet, so head on over to Baked Well (10915 Monroe Rd ste D) to try a cup. It’s a good excuse to have a cookie for breakfast with your coffee.

Photo via Magnolia Coffee

Brakeman’s Coffee, 225 N. Trade Street. Who doesn’t love Brakeman’s? It’s tough to find a table sometimes, so we get the coffee to go and find another spot in Matthews to catch up on all things Beacon.

Photo via Brakeman’s

Bethany Salisbury: Capturing Pets in Paints

Photo of Bethany Salisbury courtesy the artist

“I’m lucky to be able to do [this work]. It’s been my passion since I was a kid. I love animals and I love to paint.”

Bethany Salisbury, 31, of Matthews, knows a thing or two about pets and pet portraits. That would be nearly 900 things to be exact – the number of pet portraits painted by Bethany in the last handful of years.

A commercial artist, illustrator, and designer, Bethany has had much success with her pet portraiture, illustration and traditional paintings. And, while it is “80% dogs,” it’s also cats, rabbits, horses, birds, elephants, goats, a few ferrets, and sometimes people.

The series "Beer Dogs" will soon be on display at Temple Mojo in downtown Matthews. Photo by Cyma Shapiro

Since her mainstay is on social media, and with online orders, her clients come from all over the world (Australia, Africa, Hong Kong, to name a few places) and throughout the country. “I get a lot of repeat customers,” she said. “Many buy these for gifts.”

A childhood spent at art camp and in private art lessons, with minimal TV watching and maximum encouragement to create, combined with a love of animals led her to do just that: create paper dolls, make graphic novels and comic books about dogs.

“I’ve always grown up with animals,” she said.

The series "Beer Dogs" will soon be on display at Temple Mojo in downtown Matthews. Photo by Cyma Shapiro

While she captures the often impassioned and enamored looks of her subjects - “I think dogs are expressive,” she said. “I think it’s kind of second nature (to intuit their) emotions” - she is also not immune to the whiles of animals, herself. Bethany and her husband are the proud owners of one Miniature Long Haired Dachshund, Mochi, and an Australian Cattle Dog named River.

“I’m lucky to be able to do [this work]” said Bethany. “It’s been my passion since I was a kid. I love animals and I love to paint.”

Morning Minute: Tuesday, January 22, 2019

News About Town: Have you noticed a pot hole on your street that needs to be filled? Sign knocked down and hasn’t been replaced? First figure out if the street is owned by the town or state. If your street is a town-maintained street, as are most neighborhood streets, then contact Public Works to report the problem. If your street is state-maintained, NCDOT has an easy form to fill out to report the problem.

Public Works: 704-708-1240 or email matthews@matthewsnc.gov

NCDOT: 1-877-DOT-4YOU (1-877-368-4968) or website form

Need a stop sign replaced? Call Public Works or NCDOT.

News Around Town: USA Rugby, the national governing body for the sport of rugby in America, selected the Sportsplex at Matthews as the site for their 2019 Spring College National Championship Series. The organization worked with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority/Visit Charlotte to determine the location of their 2018 Fall College National Championships. Visit Charlotte partnered with Sportsplex staff to deliver a professional-level experience for USA Rugby and their participating teams. The Men's D1AA, Women's D1, and Women's D2 finals will be played on the weekend of May 3.

One Fun Thing: Family Fun Night at Crews Rec Center is a night of free food, drinks, and entertainment in a family-friendly atmosphere. February 1, Family Fun Night returns with Mini Golf Night! If you’ve been missing Putt Putt on Albemarle Road (for what? two decades now?) get yourself on over to Crews and relieve the glory of a hole-in-one shot blindly through the middle of a gnome-sized windmill.

*Windmills have not been confirmed, but we’re pretty sure there’s no skeeball.

Martin Luther King Jr. March in Matthews

Yesterday, January 20, 2019, community members gathered at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the third annual march from the church to Town Hall. The celebration and walk was originally organized in 2017 by then-Commissioner Reverend Larry Whitley following his successful efforts in 2016 to have the town recognize MLK Day as a town holiday. The walk has grown each year, with town leaders, staff, and many community members participating.

After a documentary about Dr. King, Pastor Whitley, Dr. Chuck Wilson, Mayor Paul Bailey, and Chief Clark Pennington (following a police escort) led the walk from Mount Moriah Church to Town Hall. At the destination, Pastor Whitley, Dr. Chuck Wilson (Matthews United Methodist Church), Mayor Paul Bailey, Nate Huggins (Blessed Assurance Adult Day Care), and Stelli Meyers, a youth representative from Matthews Presbyterian Church spoke on the significance of Dr. King and the importance of continuing his legacy.

Giant Genie Pharmacy and Community-Based Health Care

“Here we have solutions that nobody else has... We’re applying the knowledge that we learned in school; not many pharmacists can say that in a daily setting.”

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

To Bill Henning, Pharm.D., pharmacy manager and minority partner of Giant Genie Pharmacy (2925 Senna Dr.), compounding is both an art and a bonus to offering traditional pharmacy services. The pharmacy is one of two compounding pharmacies in Matthews and has been in town since 2010.

“People have to go back to believing the pharmacy is a health-care provider,” said Bill. “We need to be that point of contact in the community because people can reach us.”

In the 17th to 19th centuries, compounding in the US was a function of physicians who prescribed and created their patients’ medications. In the 20th century, with the advent of mass-drug manufacturing, compounding decreased. Today, the industry is experiencing a resurgence as the importance and need for custom-made medications becomes more prevalent.

According to Wikipedia, pharmaceutical compounding is the creation of a particular pharmaceutical product to fit the unique need of a patient. To do this, compounding pharmacists combine or process appropriate ingredients using various tools. This may be done for medically necessity, such as to change the form of the medication from a solid pill to a liquid, to avoid a non-essential ingredient that the patient is allergic to, or to obtain the exact dose needed (not already readily available). It is also the basis for creating bio-identical hormones.

Approximately 5-10% of Genie Pharmacy’s business involves prescriptions for animals.

“It’s exciting…that we can have an impact on so many people from pediatrics to geriatrics,” said Bill. “I have a lot of colleagues who work for big-chain pharmacies…they are put in a more [prescriptive] role where they are expected to fill [a certain number of] prescriptions a day and can’t pick up the phone to talk with people. Here we have solutions that nobody else has... We’re applying the knowledge that we learned in school; not many pharmacists can say that in a daily setting.”

Photo by Cyma Shapiro

The pharmacy retains a staff of four pharmacists and a few drivers – a staple since they offer free delivery.

While the downside of compounding is the cost – approximately $40 - $60 more per month, the individual attention to medication, coupled with a drive for customer service and a “family feel” often makes these Mom and Pop pharmacies more desirable.

“I enjoy it because I wake up each day and get to be excited to come to work,” said Bill.

Morning Minute: Monday, January 21, 2019

News About Town: Did you know that Matthews Fire & EMS holds an annual awards banquet? This year's banquet had 140 attendees and honored the following members of the department:

Explorer of the Year – Jacob Rodriguez
Fire Corps Member of the Year – Sabrina Corra
SAFER Award for most hours (Fire) - Jacob Bobeng
SAFER Award for most hours (EMS)- Montana Hudgens
Rookie of the Year – Kyle “Bon Jovi” Beard
Derek E. Layman EMT of the Year – Montana Hudgens
Firefighter of the Year – Reyes Cruz Guzman
Officer of the Year – Lt. Matthew Losh
L.H. Yandel Award – Chief Rob Kinniburgh

To see a recap of the department’s accomplishments in 2018, view this YouTube video.

News Around Town: Yesterday community members gathered at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church to honor Dr. King in the third annual march from the church to Town Hall. The celebration and walk was originally organized in 2017 by then-Commissioner Reverend Larry Whitley following his successful efforts in 2016 to have the town recognize MLK Day as a town holiday. The walk has grown each year, with town leaders, staff, and many community members participating.

One Fun Thing: The results of our newest unscientific poll are in. We asked,

“During the next planning conference, the Matthews Board of Commissioners may discuss shifting from 2- to 4-year terms. Do you prefer 2- or 4-year terms for the council? ”

Twenty eight people responded:

• 19 believe terms should stay two years for Commissioners,

• 9 believed terms should be four years.

The Portance of the Pansy

“If you, like me, haven’t fully appreciated the power of the pansy, take a closer look next time you’re at the nursery. Their cheerful demeanor can win over the most curmudgeonly of gardeners. ”

There was a time in my life where I really didn’t respect the pansy*.

Dotting landscapes in front of retail strips all across America, they just seemed too showy and dainty for my tastes. I like plants that can duke it out through the worst of seasons and survive. Pansies seemed to be a placeholder for zinnia season and I wasn’t going to waste my money.

More recently, though, I’ve come around to their colorful faces. The cheery yellows and purples are welcome sights in the middle of a gray winter. If we can’t have sun we should at least have their cheerful petals to brighten the days.

The flowers can wear a coat of frost and still look fantastic. Forget to water them for a bit and they’re fine. (You don’t want to drown their roots, though, so make sure they have well-draining soil.) They don’t complain about a little bit of shade but show off even more in full sun. And those colors! I think there are prettier and prettier colors every year; from deep plums to palest of oranges, the faces dappled with several colors at once, like a calico Muppet. Once their brilliance fades, just pinch off the flower head to encourage more blooms.

If you have a good source of pansies that haven’t been sprayed with pesticides, you can even eat the flowers. Is it a coincidence they thrive in winter and are chock full of Vitamin C? To me, they taste like bland lettuce, so I toss them in salads. Other ideas include topping cupcakes with flowers or freezing the blooms in ice cubes for an especially pretty cocktail.

If you, like me, haven’t fully appreciated the power of the pansy, take a closer look next time you’re at the nursery. Their cheerful demeanor can win over the most curmudgeonly of gardeners.

*For both simplicity and alliteration in my title, I’m lumping pansies and violas into one big happy group. They are, in fact, both in the viola family.

#FiveForFriday: A Morning Minute News Round Up

This #FiveForFriday Morning Minute News Round Up is for the week of January 13 through 19, 2019.

The Federal Transit Authority awarded The City of Charlotte a $920,000 grant for planning the proposed LYNX Silver Line. The Silver Line, a CATS project, is a light rail extension from Gaston County through Matthews to Union County. The budget for the total project is expected to be $1 billion.

This Saturday, January 19, is Coffee With a Commissioner at the Levine Senior Center, 1050 Devore Ln., from 9 to 10 a.m. Stop by, ask some questions, chat about Matthews, and learn more about the goings on in our town.

If you’re curious about Town Council meetings but have to get dinner on the table and kids in bed, it’s now possible to have your municipal cake and eat it too. The Town has started posting audio to the website. Find the audio file link posted beside the agenda as soon as the file is available, which will usually be a day or two after the meeting. Click audio, close your eyes and feel whisked away to the Council dais. Still want the visuals? Keep an eye on the Town’s YouTube Channel. There will be more videos in the near future.

Thursday morning (January 17) at 7 a.m. the Economic Development Advisory Council will meet. On the agenda: EDAC will discuss open broadband for the town, installing murals with funds from facade grants, and a Matthews-based website built through a partnership with developer Lat Purser, the Matthews Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Matthews.

Although we posted this a few days ago, it’s an event worth repeating and attending. This Sunday, January 20, join Pastor Larry Whitley at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (381 Crestdale Rd.) at 2:00 p.m. for the Third Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Peaceful March & Commemorative Worship. After a brief presentation about civil rights, attendees will gather outside to walk to Town Hall.

And one to grow on…Not really news, but something not to miss if you can stay awake for it: the Super Blood Wolf Moon.

This Sunday night (well, technically Monday morning) if you stay up late you might see the Super Blood Wolf Moon. The “super” part means the moon will be in relatively close proximity to the earth. A “wolf moon” is the first full moon of the year, and the blood part comes from the color of sun’s rays as they filter through the earth’s atmosphere. For 62 minutes the moon will be in full eclipse and a red hue will bathe the moon, creating both a beautiful sight and perhaps inspiration for an epic metal band name.

Morning Minute: Friday, January 18, 2019

News About Town: At Monday’s Council meeting the Board approved two zoning motions: 2018-692 and 2018-693. The property for Motion 692 is at the corner of Ames St. and West John St. The application for rezoning was unanimously approved, and zoning changed from R-20 (single-family - minimum lot size 20,000 square feet ) to O (CD) (office, conditional use). The properties for Motion 693 included several properties in the Crestdale neighborhood. The rezoning was a request to change from Crestadale Conservation zoning code CrC (old) to CrC (new). The new code essentially changes the approval process for any construction other than single-family homes to undergo a site plan and elevation approval process rather than the previously required quasi-judicial system (similar to a Variance Board hearing). The Board unanimously approved this rezoning.

News Around Town:  Although we posted this a few days ago, it’s an event worth repeating and attending. This Sunday, January 20, join Pastor Larry Whitley at Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church (381 Crestdale Rd.) at 2:00 p.m. for the Third Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Peaceful March & Commemorative Worship. After a brief presentation about civil rights, attendees will gather outside to walk to Town Hall.

One Good Thing:  It’s officially Thesaurus Day, so although it’s casual Friday at work, you better fancy up your words. Grab your compendium of synonyms and orate with imperturbable verve.

#ThrowbackThursday: February 22, 2007

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. This story was originally published February 22, 2007 and was written by Janet Denk.

CMS Learning Communities, construction discussed

Former Butler principal Joel Ritchie, who was named the first area superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools last month, was back on his old stomping grounds last Monday.

Not in the Butler Bulldog pen, but rather at Town Hall, delivering information about the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ decentralization plan. He was joined by CMS executive director of Facilities Planning and Real Estate, Mike Raible, who talked about construction.

Decentralization

CMS will decentralize into six geographic areas based on growth projections and municipal and neighborhood boundaries. Each area ranges from 17,000 to 25,000 students. The initial cost estimate for the decentralization and establishment of area offices is about $8 million. The goal is to help each school become more closely aligned with the community it serves, and it will put resources and administration closer to parents and other members of the public. An area superintendent will lead each of the six areas, dubbed learning communities. A seventh area, called the Achievement Zone, contains 10 schools with low test scores and high needs.

Construction

The school system needs $2.5 billion for construction over the next decade to keep up with explosive growth and enrollment, according to CMS officials.

The two main proposals are where to spend the money and how to build the schools. Superintendent Peter Gorman is calling for building more suburban schools and fewer renovations closer to the center city. A panel that included educators, designers, and contractors recommended about 75 ways to save money. Some of the cuts are sore spots for different areas - for instance - having high schools share football stadiums and auditoriums.

Meet your Neighbors: Jeff Turk

“There are universal experiences, but viewing it through the unique lens of the Jewish experience, around the world, does give greater understanding, great empathy and greater connection with [all] our neighbors.”

Photo of Jeff Turk by Cyma Shapiro

When long-time Matthews resident and a recent Matthews 101 graduate, Jeff Turk, co-chair of the Charlotte Jewish Film Festival Screening Committee, attends the opening of the upcoming festival, he will again “kvell” (Yiddish for “feel happy and proud”) that another year of Jewish movie going-greats will again be offered in the city.

Now, in its fifteenth year, the festival will offer thirteen films between February 9 and March 3. More than 5,000 film-goers are expected to attend. Five writers/directors/actors will also be present to promote and lead discussions regarding some of the films. This year’s biggest draw will be former Houston Astros player, Josh Zeib – on hand for one of the movies.

As co-chair, Jeff and 15 others work year-round to find and screen films, concentrating on the months between June and October. At the end of this period, they will have vetted and watched 200 films, paring them down to what they believe will be the “best” choices available.

For Jeff, the current president of the Board of Directors of the Levine Jewish Community Center (JCC), this involvement, and decades of prior significant volunteer service, provides the satisfaction that comes from both building bridges in the community and helping present the Jewish experience. He has also volunteered his time with various other arts organizations. The film festival remains a long-time endeavor and one in which he’s especially proud.

“There are universal experiences,” said Jeff, “but viewing it through the unique lens of the Jewish experience, around the world, does give greater understanding, great empathy and greater connection with [all] our neighbors.”

“The film festival provides illuminating cultural opportunities….stories with universal appeal, (but) with a Jewish (slant),” he said. “I’d like to reach out to the greater community to become an audience member. Because anybody who has an interest in good films, other cultures and religion, will have a real appreciation for [this]…It really does illuminate the Jewish experience and, I hope, it makes a positive impact on our community.”

For more information, e-mail cjff@charlottejcc.org

Morning Minute: Thursday, January 17, 2019

News About Town: This morning at 7 a.m. the Economic Development Advisory Council will meet. On the agenda: EDAC will continue to discuss open broadband for the town, installing murals with funds from facade grants, and a Matthews-based website built in partnership with developer Lat Purser, the Matthews Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Matthews. 

Image via Wikipedia (Creative Commons)

News Around Town:  Started in 1982, The North Carolina Botanical Garden and the Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc. created the North Carolina Wildflower of the Year program. This year’s flower, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, is a tenacious little plant commonly known as narrow-leaf mountain-mint. A pungent, natural insect repellent, but a friend to native bees, mountain mint grows easily in Matthews. Look for plants at the Farmers Market this spring and at the Renfrow Farms plant sale later in the year.

One Fun Thing:  Did you know, when you give to the Arts and Science Council you’ll receive a Connect with Culture Card? Show your card when you purchase tickets to the Matthews Playhouse shows and receive BOGO for regular priced adult admission (limited to Opening Weekend only). More details here.