Morning Minute: Monday, June 1, 2020

News Around Town: Last week, Earnest Winston and the CMS Board of Education appointed Penni Beth Crisp as the next principal of Matthews Elementary. Dr. Tangela Williams, Southeast Learning Community Superintendent, relayed the news to parents with a special announcement, thanking Interim Principal Jane Sutton and Assistant Principal Catherine Bish for their stellar leadership during the hiring process. Principal Crisp is transferring from Lansdowne Elementary and has 10 years experience as an elementary level principal. 

News Around Town: School is winding down but the library is opening up. Char-Meck Libraries will open in phases under regular summer hours: Monday through Thursday 9 am to 8 pm, Friday & Saturday 9 am to 5 pm. This first phase of re-opening is limited to hold pick-ups and returns. Staff will be masked and ready to assist. This phase is expected to last three to four weeks.

One Good Thing: Matthews HELP Center’s Backporch Tresures boutique is reopening today. Everything is stocked to the brim, refreshed and ready for shoppers! A mask is required, and safe practices are in place.

Cold Rain

Cold Rain

Sometimes when things
Seem all wrong
They say you have
To remain strong
No matter
How badly you feel
Your own pain
Remember someone
Somewhere is hurting
Just like you
So bring up that
Smile From deep within
To chase the shadows
And gloom
And then
You will see
Sunshine
Light a new
Path
And the cold rain
Will cease
And leave your
Heart
Like a bad dream
It will fade
Away too

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash by @kellysikkema

Morning Minute: Friday, May 29, 2020

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners will hold a Zoom remote meeting for the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget on Monday, June 1, 2020 at 6:00 pm. To follow along remotely, click here  or watch via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. If you prefer to listen rather than view, call 888-788-0099 (Toll Free) or 877-853-5247 (Toll Free) and enter meeting ID 971 5213 4217.

News Around Town: Let’s look at COVID-19 numbers. We last reported numbers on May 15. As of 4:30 pm on May 28, Mecklenburg County has had 3,605 cases and 85 deaths. (Wake County has the second most number of cases at 1,564 and 36 deaths.) Within the 28105 zip code 138 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 9 have died. Two congregate living facilities have had outbreaks. Carrington Place is now stable, but had 9 staff members who tested positive, 27 resident positives, and 5 deaths. Royal Park Rehabilitation and Health Center has an ongoing outbreak with 9 staff positives, and 29 resident positives. NC has had 25,412 cases and 827 deaths. Not all cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this does not represent the total number of people in North Carolina who have or had COVID-19. (Data source: NC Department of Health and Human Services.)

One Fun Thing: When shelter-in-place hit, Matthews Community Center yoga teacher Linda Oelschlaeger, pivoted online with her own yoga YouTube channel. Linda teaches a technique called Bowspring Yoga, which appeals to yoga aficionados and injured athletes alike. The short (10-15 minute) videos are are free because Linda feels is dedicated to keep people moving during the pandemic. Look for Linda’s classes at the Community Center once restrictions have eased.

Thank you, Eliana: This is the final multi-sensory art prompt from Eliana. She has contributed art and songs with her grandmom, Eileen, for the past three weeks. We are so grateful for her contribution and fun spin on art as we navigate challenging times.  

Morning Minute: Thursday, May 28, 2020

News About Town: The Town of Matthews Parks and Rec is known throughout the area for fun-filled, affordable summer camps. This year the department has canceled all June camps but will resume most summer camps for July and August. Camp Funshine will not be offered this summer. Online registration begins Monday, June 1 (http://www.matthewsnc.gov/matthewsfun). Camp staff will adhere to CDC precautions and guidelines.

News Around Town: A few months ago the term pivot was most used on the dance floor. These days the most successful small businesses are those who’ve pivoted, showing flexibility and entrepreneurial prowess. Your Mom’s Donuts pivoted like a champ, offering farm fresh products twice a week in their Matthews shop. The already-popular donut shop’s wild success necessitated a shop upgrade to handle increased business.

One Fun Thing: Join the North State Humanists for Science on Sunday, a family-friendly programming to encourage everyone to bring science straight to your home. This Sunday, join the group on Zoom while they chat with ambassadors from the Raptor Center. Learn about birds of prey and get answers to your most burning bird questions.

Carolina Raptor Center Live Feed and Q&A
Sunday, May 31 at 11:00AM
https://zoom.us/join
Zoom ID: 869 5664 8619
Password: 537998

We Were Wrong: Speaking of science, reader Amy pointed out the cicadas won’t be coming out in Matthews. The long-lived insects will be further west in the mountains of North Carolina.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, May 27, 2020

News About Town: Last night the Town retroactively recognized last week as National Public Works week. Public Works employees are often the first on the scene to assess storm damage, and the last lo leave after everything is tidied up again. They pave our sidewalks and patch our roads. Even though the official week is over, let’s give the department a giant thanks!

News Around Town: After 17 years underground, there are a bunch of cicadas ready to see the light of day…or the dusk of day. As some of the longest-lived insects, the 17-year cicadas’ mating calls are the soundtrack of summer evenings in the south. While we hear cicadas every year, with this additional brood the sound may be especially loud.

One Good Thing: Weaver Budd Law (352 E. Charles St.) has added two Little Free Pantries in front of their offices. Similar to Little Free Libraries, these structures hold shelf stable foods and household essentials. Have something to give? Donate away! Need something? Take it!

Barred {Owls} on the Greenway

“A pair of owls can check out a nest a whole year in advance before committing to it.”

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

We're right smack in the middle of baby bird season!  I've already had the first Northern cardinals, Carolina wrens, and Carolina chickadees fledge in my yard, and there are brown-headed nuthatches and Eastern bluebirds on the nest.  Exciting times!

We also had some very special babies on a property adjacent to the greenway in Matthews - barred owls!  These are the most common owls in our area.  They nest in cavities in trees, in chimneys, and in boxes.  It's not very hard to spot them, and they have a couple of vocalizations that help identify them.  One sounds like, "Who cooks for you?  Who cooks for you?  Who????"  The other sounds like a cross between monkeys run amok, gargling, and yodeling.  You'll know it from that description if you ever hear it!

The homeowners installed a barred owl box about eight years ago.  Last year they had their first residents, and it happened again this year.  An article from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology stated that the pair of owls can check out a nest a whole year in advance before committing to it!

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

The owls started visiting the nest box, which is installed on a two-story roof over the garage, around the first week of December.  The eggs were laid between March 20th to the 25th.  Barred owls usually lay two to three eggs, occasionally more, and they are dull white in color.  The incubation period ranges from 28 to 33 days.  While the female is on the eggs, the male brings food to the nest.

After hatching, the young remain in the nest for four to five weeks, growing larger and eating more every day.  Then the really exciting period begins - sightings of the young birds.  The first appearance of an owlet this year was on April 30th.  They don't leave the nest, but just stick their heads out.  This happens more often as they get closer to "branching" or leaving the nest site.  Two of the owlets fledged on May 2nd and 3rd, with the final baby leaving on Wednesday, May 6th.

Many people don't know that birds learn to fly on the ground and don't return to the nest once they leave it.  This is true of owls, too.  They hop and practice flapping their wings, and usually end up in some kind of cover so that predators can't find them.

They'll stay in the general vicinity, building their flight skills and learning to hunt, with their parents nearby.  In total, these birds are with the parents for around four months!  

Here are several pictures of the owl family.  The first is likely of the male, soaking wet after a night of rain.  The next Is one of the parents sitting in the woods, watching the nest box.  The final picture is one of the owlets, taken a day before the first one fledged.

This owl family kept people using the greenway engaged for months as they passed by the nest box.  Hopefully they'll be back next year to nest there again.  

We'll have to wait until December to see!

Photo by Debbie LeBlanc Foster

Morning Minute: Tuesday, May 26, 2020

News About Town: NCDOT’s budget is in dire straits, which is bad news for some Matthews roads. The Board of Commissioners will receive an update by Public Works Director CJ O’Neill PE during tonight’s meeting to learn which road projects will be suspended while the DOT works out their money woes.

News Around Town: ‘Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicating to changing the world one child and one community at a time.’ This is the defining statement of Kiwanis International, and the members of the Matthews Kiwanis Club serve together to fulfill that commitment. The club recently announced the recipient of the 2020 Kiwanis Club of the Matthews Community Service Scholarship. Jacqueline (Jackie) Aiello, a graduating senior of David W. Butler High School, was awarded the $2,500 college scholarship because of her commitment to community service and life of service.

One Good Thing: The Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity ReStore (2447 East John St.) is open and ready to take your donations of home decor and home improvement items. Contactless drop-off for donations is available Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm and Saturdays 9:30 am to 4:00 pm.  Donors doing drop-off are asked to unload all items in the designated area where they will be assessed by staff. The store is open to shoppers Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 5 pm, staff requests shoppers wear face masks and maintain all social distancing guidelines.

Morning Minute: Frinesterday, May 22, 2020

News About Town: The Tuesday, May 26 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is online. The meeting will be held on Tuesday due to Memorial Day. Once again the meeting will be held via Zoom. Public comments should be directed to Town Clerk Lori Canapinno by 5 pm (3 pm for budget comments) the day of the meeting. Items of note include an the public hearing for the FY21 Town budget, an update on the Silverline process, and DOT will provide project updates. NCDOT new project funds are frozen due to financial troubles exacerbated by COVID-19.

News Around Town: As retailers reopen with safety practices in place, the Sycamore Commons Pier1is reopening just as the chain begins the process of permanently shuttering all of its stores. The retailer filed for bankruptcy protection in January of this year and sought a buyer. With no sale in place, the company is ready to begin the store-closure process.

One Good Thing: Hools-Orr American Legion Post 235 will hold their Annual Matthews Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25 at 11:00 am at Stumptown Park. The ceremony will honor Matthews service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

At 3 pm on Monday, participate in the National Moment of Remembrance. This one minute observation was created by Congress as an act of national unity on Memorial Day.

Morning Minute: Thriturday, May 21, 2020

News About Town: Yesterday the Governor announced NC will enter Phase II of reopening this Friday at 5 pm. The phase, known as Safer at Home, allows restaurants and some other businesses (pools, salons, and day cares included) to open at 50% capacity. The openings come with sanitation precautions and safety recommendations and residents should still wash hands, wear a mask, and maintain physical distance six feet from other people. Here is a partial list of what is still closed: public playgrounds, bowling alleys, indoor exercise facilities and gyms, movie theaters, skating rinks, event venues, museums, and bars.

News Around Town: Last year Matthews residents dutifully bagged up their leaves, piled up sticks, and bundled tree branches. The waste was whisked off by a truck, never to be seen again. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, gardening is flourishing and good dirt is of the essence. Get that (transformed) yard waste back in the form of rich, dark soil. When Republic (the solid waste service provider for Matthews) picks up yard waste, they take it to a County composting site, where it’s turned into mulch and compost. Whether you need a bag or a truckload, the county has you covered. Head over to their website to find out more.

One Fun Thing: After weeks with ill-kempt pandemic hair, salons and barbers can cautiously reopen. Don’t get too eager to sheer it all off—at least not the part on the front of your face. 🧔🏻Time gear up for the GOOD beard 🧔🏻contest with Good Cup! Show off your GREAT GOOD beard to a a panel of Matthews resident judges. They’ll judge you (in a good way) for originality, length, colorfulness, and creativity. Winners will get a box of GOOD stuff! Follow along with Good Cup for more info.

Baseball (Cinquain)

Baseball (Cinquain)

Baseball

soars towards the clouds

beside it, it carries

all passengers seeking their field

of dreams

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash @matthew_t_rader

Morning Minute: Wednesday, May 20, 2020

News About Town: Fully into budget season, the Board of Commissioners has received the Manager’s Recommended Budget and held one work session to discuss the Fiscal Year End 2021 budget. Budget documents are available on the town website for public review.

News Around Town: Matthews recently got a shout out on the county’s Facebook page—71% of Matthews residents have filled out the census! Huntersville was close behind at 69%. Pineville’s in last place among the seven cities in Mecklenburg County. Keep it up Matthews!

One Good Thing: Brakeman’s Coffee (225 N. Trade St.) has a new blend: The Arena. A blend of African and Brazilian coffees, the blend is inspired by Teddy Roosevelt’s infamous arena quote from his Citizenship in a Republic speech. Pick up beans in person at Brakeman’s or order online.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, May 19, 2020

News Around Town: The Matthews Alive Board of Directors announced the cancellation of this year’s Matthews Alive Festival. For the first Labor Day in 27 years (plus the many years of Stumptown prior), crowds won’t fill the streets of downtown Matthews. The decision came after lengthy discussion accompanying the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the impossibility for social distancing. 

One Good Thing: Cotton Gin Graphics is working overtime filling in the celebratory voids felt during isolation. Have a fifth grader moving up to middle school? A teacher who deserves special thanks? Make a sign for them! Have a birthday coming up or a forlorn grad in the family? There’s a sign for that. Contact Cotton Gin to place an order.

Morning Minute: Monday, May 18, 2020

News About Town: The second Matthews Fire & EMS Department video is out. This time they’re showing off everyone’s favorite apparatus: the fire truck! Learn about the ins and outs of the truck and how the truck is outfitted to keep Matthews safe.

News Around Town: This week (May 18 through 22) is Butler High School’s Senior Spirit Week. Seniors are invited to join and post their super spirit on social media. Tag your posts #byebutler. Here’s the schedule: Monday: Butler Spirit Day, Tuesday: Tik Tok Tuesday, Wednesday: Wind It Back, Thursday: Reverse Awards, Friday: Cap and Gown.

One Good Thing: Birra Burger (929 Park Center Dr.) is open daily from 11 am to 6 pm. Offering take out, curbside service, and delivery (through Grubhub and DoorDash), there’s a multitude of methods to obtain and enjoy a big ol’ gourmet Birra burger.

Aroma (Cinquain)

Aroma (Cinquain)

Scents with

hypnotic smells

linger in fine mists and

fill the air with their bouquets that

beckon

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash @mary_pen

Morning Minute: May 15, 2020

News About Town: If you’re out and about today, you may notice Town flags at half-mast. Governor Cooper requested the lowering of flags for Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day to honor officers killed or injured in the line of duty.

News Around Town: Let’s look at COVID-19 numbers. We last Reported numbers on April 22. As of 4:30 pm on May 14, Mecklenburg County has had 2,320 cases and 63 deaths. (Wake County has the second most number of cases at 1,107 and 27 deaths.) Within the 28105 zip code 86 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 6 have died. NC has had16,507 cases and 615 deaths. Not all cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this does not represent the total number of people in North Carolina who have or had COVID-19. (Data aggregated from Mecklenburg County Public Health and NC Department of Health and Human Services.)

One Good Thing: Temperatures last weekend dipped into the 30s and temps this weekend will reach the 80s. If you’re working outside make sure to stay hydrated.