Childhood Sweethearts

Childhood Sweethearts

I remember in a red and pink box
tiny Valentine candies shaped in
hearts.
They came in shades of yellow,
pink and lavender too, each one had a
different message printed on its top
perfectly written for you.
The excitement would build til
it was Valentine's Day at last and
in school that morning hidden inside
your desk the anticipation would
build and you couldn't wait to pass
to the love of your life then, your
sentiments and when he smiled
in return you knew you'd love him
forever because that box of sweet
hearts could never be wrong when
you were young.

By Lorraine Stark

Morning Minute: Monday, February 17, 2020

News About Town: Last week we wrote about the Planning Conference for the new Board of Commissioners. The conference agenda is now online. Items include big items such as NCDOT road improvements and fire department needs, and smaller items such as addressing sidewalk gaps.

News Around Town: At the beginning of the year the CMS calendar showed today, President’s Day, as an official school holiday. After tornado damage caused a missed day of school earlier this month, today will be a make up day for students.

One Fun Thing: Today is the last day to enter data for the Great Backyard Bird Count. If you signed up, get your info in. So far the data shows 289 checklists and 91 species for Mecklenburg County, but none specific to Matthews.

Morning Minute: Friday, February 14, 2020

News About Town: At Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting, two Town of Matthews employees were named Employees of the Year. From Public Works, Supervisor Bobby Hoxit was given the award for his integrity, positive attitude, and outstanding leadership. From the Matthews Police Department Officer Marlon Cockerham received the award. Marlon was recognized for kindness and willingness to go the extra mile. Both men were recognized for their good character and excellent examples for town staff and the community beyond.

News Around Town: Mark it on your calendar, the Mecklenburg County Budget Workshop for the southeastern part of Mecklenburg will be February 26 from 6 to 8 pm at the Sportsplex here in Matthews. Registration is required, but this is a great opportunity to learn and ask questions about the county budget.

One Good Thing: Tonight, February 14, at Stumptown Station, 107A N Trade St, join Weaver, Bennett & Bland to Sing Your Heart Out. No, we aren’t capitalizing letters willy nilly, this is a special night of karaoke for charity. Warm-up your vocal cords, the singing starts at 9 pm (til close), with all proceeds benefiting Matthews Help Center Even if you can carry a tune, you have to pay to sing—a buck lands you on the list to sing. Bring more bills for the VIP treatment. Proceeds will go to the Matthews Help Center’s services for those experiencing financial crisis.

Morning Minute: Thursday, February 13, 2020

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners is preparing for the annual planning conference, with a lengthy to-do list at hand. The conference will start in Matthews on Thursday, February 27, before moving to the Chetola Lodge in Blowing Rock for two days. The Board will use conference time to prioritize goals which, when those goals become actionable, will likely become part of regular Board of Commissioners meetings.

News Around Town: Natisha Rivera-Patrick, President & CEO of Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity, has been working with local agencies for the past eight months to form the Matthews Affordable Housing Alliance. This partnership connects community groups and nonprofits to identify and tackle issues surrounding affordable housing opportunities in Matthews. With a goal of ensuring everyone has access to housing, the Alliance seeks to change the conversation about what affordable housing is and who it serves, while working to dispel misconceptions.

One Good Thing: On February 6, Governer Roy Cooper proclaimed this week (February 10-14) as School Bus Driver Appreciation Week in North Carolina. The proclamation is an extension of North Carolina’s Love the Bus program, an initiative is a way to raise appreciation for the hundreds of thousands of school bus drivers nationwide, and provide an opportunity for parents and children to learn more about the safety and environmental benefits of school bus transportation. School. How so, you ask? School buses reduce traffic by keeping more than 17 million cars off roads each year, the American School Bus Council says, while also saving approximately 2.6 billion gallons of fuel.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, February 12, 2020

News About Town: Just one day after the Town of Matthews unanimously voted support for a resolution not to follow through with municipal charter schools (HB514), the Board of Education responded with a reciprocal measure. During the regular Board of Education meeting on Tuesday evening, the BOE unanimously voted to, once again, prioritize capital spending in Matthews alongside Charlotte, Davidson, and Pineville.

News Around Town: Last week Matthews-based Southern Deli Holdings (SD Holdings LLC) Filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. The filing came in the heels of SD Holdings closing three franchise locations of Fuzzy’s Tacos (including the Sycamore Common’s location). SD Holdings owns more than 100 restaurants within multiple brands such as Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, McAlister’s Deli, MOD Pizza, and Sonic Drive-In.

One Good Thing: The 3rd annual "Welcome to Matthews" print and online community guide is on its way to the printers. This magazine-style resource enables local leaders to promote your business, engage support and cultivate a sense of community.  Purchase an ad spot before March 27 by contacting Sandy Barnett (sandyb@gobizwell.com or 704-491-9897).

Staving off the Storm Chasers

In the wake of Thursday’s storm, roofing storm-chasers will soon be knocking on doors. As homeowners, we expect a reasonable price and high-quality work. Knowing how to separate the experts from the fly-by-night contractors is more difficult. Maytée Sanz of Griffin Roofing, a Matthews-based GAF Master Elite® and Certified™ Contractor, walked us through the process.

So the wind blew shingles off your roof, a branch ripped off the gutters and now somebody is knocking on your door saying they can fix it. How do you verify they’re a legit business?

• Matthews requires a solicitation permit for door-to-door sales. Ask for a permit and make sure they provide it to you.

• Check for an insurance number, BBB, and manufacturer designation on any materials you receive.

• Make sure the contractor is properly licensed and registered with the state of North Carolina. You can also check their vehicle to make sure they have proper business markings such as company name, phone number, and license plates in the state where you live.

• Don’t let a contractor you don’t know on your roof; they may create damage in order to get a

Now that I’ve talked to several contractors, what do I do?

Before you hire a contractor:

• Get three quotes. Not only will you have a better idea about what the cost should be, but it will also give you a chance to think rather than jumping on the best deal. Once you have your quotes, do further homework.

• Check references and look up the business on BBB to make sure they are well rated.

• Get a copy of their insurance coverage.

• Get a written contract that outlines the price, work to be done, and the amount of insurance coverage.

I’ve found the right company for the job. Now I’m ready to sign on the line. What do I need to do?

• Have a clearly defined scope of work and expectations. Let the contractor know what you expect and listen to what they outline as the scope of the work. 

• Do not pay for the work in advance. It’s a red flag if a contractor asks for full or half payment upfront.

• Pay by credit card so you have additional protection.

Thanks for the help, Maytée!

Using these ideas as guidelines to proceed will help fend off headaches and frustration. Do your research, use common sense, and you will be well-prepared to find a contractor capable of repairing your home.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, February 11, 2020

News About Town: With the amount of fallen trees post storm, Please remember the rules of yard waste pick up. Please be courteous to neighbors and don’t block the sidewalk or street. If you can, bag leaves and smaller sticks in heavy-duty paper bags available specifically for yard waste. These bags can go straight into the composting piles at Compost Central, eliminating single-use plastic waste. Plastic bags should be clear or the top must remain open so waste collectors can see the contents. Bags must weigh less than 50 pounds each, and there is a 20 bag limit per week per residence. Have branches trimmed shorter than 4 feet long and less than 5 inches thick. Stack limbs in small piles for easy collection. Remember, it’s not the Hulk picking up our yard waste.

News Around Town: Novant Health Matthews Medical Center, 1500 Matthews Township Parkway, is hosting a ‘Stop the Bleed’ training session Saturday, February 22, from 10 am until noon. The class is part of a worldwide initiative to teach the skills to stop bleeding in life-threatening emergencies. For more info, send us an email.

One Good Thing: Today is officially Make a Friend Day. Fellow introverts, it’s ok to hide while the extroverts do their thing.

Morning Minute: Monday, February 10, 2020

News About Town: Public Works, the Fire Department, the Police Department and local utilities have been working around the clock to remove trees downed by the storm from roadways. As of last night, Duke Energy had no remaining reported outages within Matthews.

News Around Town: The National Weather Service paid Matthews a visit after last Thursday’s storm. Two representatives took a tour of the damage and assessed that it was an EF1 tornado started in Pineville and traveled via Highway 51 to Matthews before veering off toward Hemby Bridge. EF1 is the second weakest type of tornado. Wind speeds topped at about 95 miles per hour. The tornado’s path was a width of approximately 150 yards.
No injuries were reported, but Charlotte neighborhood Settler’s Landing and areas of downtown Matthews suffered significant damage.

Angels Tears

Angels Tears

Alone
my heart broken
walking side by side with
the invisible poverty of
my soul it suddenly started to
rain and I knew that very moment
my life had come back sweetened
from angels tears

By Lorraine Stark

I

Morning Minute: Friday, February 7, 2020

News About Town: Thursday’s storm was a doozy. While crews are out fixing power lines and clearing roads, stay home and out of the way. For the curious, Blaine Tolison shared images on Twitter, and the Exchange Pizza Depot has photos on Facebook. A tornado touched down in Matthews. All in all, over 4,200 homes were left without power.

News Around Town: Today (February 7) is the last day to register to vote before the March 3 primaries. Voters can register during early voting as well, but not on regular election days. Voters who will be 18 by the next general election can vote in the primaries. No photo ID will be required to vote in the primaries, but when you register to vote you are required to provide proof of residence.

One Good Thing: Aside from National Pizza Day, Sunday is also the last Mamma Mia! performance at the Playhouse. There are just a few seats left for this show. Mayor John Higdon will have a cameo in each of the final four performances, beginning Friday night.

Morning Minute: Thursday, February 6, 2020

News About Town: The agenda has been posted for Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting. Items for discussion include approval of a 4G cell tower near the Habitat ReStore, change in zoning conditions to allow Brace YMCA to move the soccer fields away from the Weddington/I-485 ramp construction, presentation of the Downtown Mobility Study, and for the Board to consider a resolution regarding municipal charter schools. 

More News Around Town: The Matthews Heritage Museum’s exhibit House with a Heart has been extended for another month, staying up until March 7. "The House With A Heart: 40 Years of the Matthews HELP Center" documents the past 40 years of good works by the HELP Center and will be on display until February 1, 2020. What started as an all-volunteer organization in the Massey-Clark House (home of the Matthews Heritage Museum), now employs a professional staff of 7 full-time and 6 part-time staff and over 240 volunteers.

The Matthews Heritage Museum is located at 232 N. Trade Street is open Thursday – Saturday from 10 to 4:30. Small admission charged. 

One Good Thing: Sunday is National Pizza Day. Here at BeacHQ, we don’t need a day to recognize pizza. We celebrate it every single day, but if you need a good excuse to try a pie, Sunday is it. Matthews has plenty of independently owned pizza places; may we suggest the Exchange Pizza Depot (213 N Trade St suite b), Pizza Peel (110 Matthews Station St #1a), Papa Murphy’s (3016 Weddington Rd #200), Jet’s (920 Park Center Dr), or Primavera (1319 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd). Each of these pizzerias has its own style, so maybe a National Pizza Week would be more appropriate.

Matthews Makers: David Johnson of Silent Images

If a picture speaks a thousand words, David Johnson, director of Matthews-based nonprofit Silent Images, has a lot to say.

As a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, David spent many years teaching and coaching tennis. Through travel he found his passion for capturing stories through photography. In 2006, on his first major assignment in Darfur, Sudan, David realized his ability to tell the stories of those who cannot speak for themselves: those impacted by genocide. As David explains, “It was out of this conviction that I founded Silent Images and wrote and published Voices of Sudan in 2007 and Voice of Beauty in 2009.” Silent Images is now a nonprofit with a full team of photographers and filmmakers who provide visual storytelling to other charities.

David not only lives in downtown Matthews but as director for Silent Images, he also works there. On any given day you’ll see him zipping around town on his bike or outside spending time with his wife and daughters. Work and family blend seamlessly through proximity.

Whether behind the camera or guiding his staff, David continues to empower stories to be told.

Photos courtesy of David Johnson

Morning Minute: Wednesday, February 5, 2020

News Around Town: There’s one more Safety Year-In-Review tonight at Matthews United Methodist Church. The information will be about Beat 2, which includes downtown, Weddington Road, and Pleasant Plains. If you missed the presentation in your area of town you’ll still learn relevant information. Matthews Police & Fire will provide 2019 statistics and discuss plans for 2020. There will be a question-answer period, as well.

More News Around Town: Eighteen year old Katherine Greene, a senior at Covenant Day School, was recognized as a bronze finalist for the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Created by Prudential Financial, the awards recognize America's top youth volunteers. Katherine founded Katie's Kidz, an organization that has collected and donated more than 50,000 gifts for hospitalized children since 2007.

One Good Thing: We’ve been working hard at getting membership packages ready to go out. Did you know you can join the Matthews Beacon parade of supporters and receive discounts at area businesses, such as the Loyalist, Good Cup, and Backyard Birds? We’re working on building our list of membership perks, so if you’re a Matthews business and want to reach Beacon readers, come aboard! Send a note and we’ll fill you in on the details.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, February 4, 2020

News Around Town: Northern Matthews will have a new grocery store in exactly one week. Lidl, 4520 Margaret Wallace Road, is almost ready. Opening day is February 12, with a ribbon-cutting at 7:40. Stop by for Valentine's needs, store giveaways, and grand opening fun. 

More News Around Town: Meck Pre-K is accepting applications for the 2020-21 school year. To be eligible, applicants must have a verified family income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level (for a family of four, that’s $103,000 in annual household income). MECK Pre-K is a Mecklenburg County-funded program that offers free, quality pre-kindergarten at four- and five-star child care centers. Children must be age four on or before August 31, 2020. For more information contact, Tameika Leslie or call 704-943-9585 or visit MeckPreK.org.

Image via Unsplash

One Good Thing (from Debbie with Good Cup): When I found out I was pregnant, I was anxious and filled with wonderful anticipation—the things your body can do, the shades of green it can feel. A new life. Names start buzzing through my brain, nursery themes, what to read.. excited. But I’ve come to realize, that sometimes circumstances aren’t as ideal...

Over the course of February, Good Cup will be hosting a baby shower for three teens who are currently pregnant. The difference between these young women is that they are victims of human trafficking. Teens.
Not the happiest of topics, but did you know that Charlotte is one of the largest hubs for human trafficking in the southeast. In honor of Valentine’s Day, a time when we show love, we have a chance to do good and show three girls what unconditional love can look like. We’ll be collecting baby care items at Good Cup. Here’s is the list (for bigger items, we only need one per baby): car seat, stroller,  pack-n-play, baby monitor, wipes, diapers, clothes, pacifiers, bottles/formula, burp cloths, bibs, diaper bag, baby soap, lotion, hygiene supplies, crib sheets, swaddles, diaper cream, baby towels, baby nail clippers, baby thermometer, first aid kit, play mat, breast pads/nipple cream, blankets. 

For this event, Good Cup is partnering with Present Age Ministries. Present Age Ministries is committed to combatting the sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking of teen girls.  We are resolved to rebuild trust, restore hope, and redefine love, one life at a time. As one of the only vetted child-serving agencies in the area, we are constantly called upon to support the needs of minor victims – providing the vital safety net to these children. With each girl we serve, we seek to provide individualized, wrap-around services to the family, including case management, medical support, individual counseling, family counseling, group sessions, educational support, relational support, and spiritual support. 

Morning Minute: Monday, February 3, 2020

News About Town: Sunday morning, just after 2 am, Matthews Fire & EMS responded to a fire at Paces Commons Apartments. What began as a third story balcony fire destroyed one apartment and damage at least five others. Six engines and two ladder trucks were called to the fire. Idlewild, Mint Hill, Stallings, and Charlotte all responded and aided in controlling the fire.

News Around Town: At 9 am this past Saturday more than 100 Matthews residents were lined up in the Matthews United Methodist parking lot to claim free trees from Matthews’ first TreeStore. Trees Charlotte gave away 350 trees to more than 150 residents. The Town of Matthews Appearance and Tree Board were available to assist throughout the event. By closing time at 11am, all of the available trees were claimed.

One Good Thing: HAWK’s next meeting is all about the owls…barred owls that is. Tuesday, February 4 at 7 pm at the Community Center, join Matthews’ most dedicated naturalists for an exciting, informative presentation by biologist David Crowe. David will share interesting facts about the owls and how to attract them to your backyard habitat. HAWK will be raffling off an owl nesting box at the event, as well.