Morning Minute: Monday, April 12, 2021

News About Town: The Monday, April 12 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The Board will meet via Zoom (link here, meeting ID 976 2258 0481). To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter the meeting ID 976 2258 0481. A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

A 6 pm meeting is scheduled to discuss Town-owned properties in the downtown area. At the regular 7 pm meeting, items of note include:

• A continuation of the Public Hearing for 2021-728 (duplexes by Godwin Homes on Pleasant Plains).

• A discussion about changing the minimum area required for MUD (Mixed use District).

• Consideration for the Locally Preferred Alignment for the Lynx Silver Line.

• Discussion of response to two Senate bills: SB 349/HB 401 (a bill that would eliminate municipal authority of zoning controls), and SB 455 (decriminalization of Town Ordinances).

News Around Town: According to the CDC, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects about 1 out of 54 children. Matthews Fire & EMS, in order to better serve residents on the spectrum, is now part of Community Connect. This partnership with county fire and EMS is an easily accessible, confidential, online form where households can provide critical information to first responders when caring for residents with ASD. Create an account here.

One Fun Thing: If we’ve learned anything during the pandemic, it’s that screens have their place—connecting people from all over the world to meet, socialize, and maintain connections. With the rising interest in Esports, a form of sport competition using video games, Mecklenburg County wants input on possible programming. Programming may take the form of both team and individual video game competitions. Take a quick survey here.

Morning Minute: Monday, March 29, 2021

News Around Town: The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently announced that all 48 women’s teams and all 36 men’s Division 1 soccer teams will compete in North Carolina, and Matthews will host some of those games. Hosting games in one state will limit travel time, consolidating the usual length of the tournaments.

The championship tournaments, postponed from last fall, will be held in four athletic complexes: Bryan Park—Greensboro, J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex—Wilson, Sportsplex—Matthews, and WakeMed Soccer Park—Cary. The champions will be crowned at WakeMed Soccer Park. Attendance will be capped at 25% capacity.

All games will be held between April 27 and May 17. The tournament fields will be selected on April 19. First-round games for the women are April 27-28 while the men begin play on April 29.

News Around Town:   There’s a new exhibit on display at the Matthews Heritage Museum, 232 N. Trade St. North Carolina Pottery: A Tradition in Clay is on display until August 28. Covering the history and evolution of North Carolina’s internationally renowned pottery tradition, the display includes examples of utilitarian wares as well as decorative and pieces span from the 19th to 21st centuries. Showcased pottery represents styles of specific locales throughout NC, even some from Matthews’ own Outen Pottery.

The museum is open Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Adults are $4.00 per person, 10 to 17 years of age is $2.00 per, and under 10 are free. The first Saturday of every month entry is free. Masks are required. Museum visitors are limited to 5 at a time so reserve your spot (704-708-4996)!

One Good Thing: Want to support your local library? Plant a sign for Library Giving Day! Library Giving Day, April 7, is a one-day fundraising event in the middle of National Library Week. Use the day to show your appreciation and support by donating $15 to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Libraries. You’ll receive a thank you Bookmark the Town yard sign to “plant” at home. The library has a goal of 5,000 signs this year, so they need all hands on deck—errr—book? To support Library Giving Day without a yard sign, simply click the “donate” button here.

Morning Minute: Friday, March 26, 2021

News Around Town: The 2017 Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools bonds included funds for a relief school for Bain, Lebanon Road, and Piney Grove Elementary Schools. This past Monday, CMS Planning Services hosted an informational meeting about attendance boundaries. The new building will share a campus with Mint Hill Middle and will provide relief not only for Bain/Lebanon Road/Piney Grove, but also Crown Point, and, likely, Matthews Elementary. View the slides here and provide input through a survey here. The survey will remain open through Sunday, April 11. Look for more engagement sessions when CMS mid-April.

News Around Town: Matthews Mint Hill Toastmasters will resume in-person weekly meetings on Friday, April 16th at Blair Rd. United Methodist Church in Mint Hill from 12:30-1:30. Guests are welcome to join and learn about how Toastmasters can help improve their communication and leadership skills in a welcoming environment. Members will be social distancing and masking. For more information, email Vicki at vickijohns911@gmail.com. (Thanks for the tip, Kristen!)

One Good Job: Mason Jar Group, the owner of Grace O’Malley’s, is looking for awesome individuals for the Front of House Team at the popular Matthews restaurant. Servers, Bartenders, Hosts, Bussers/Food Runner positions available, apply here.

Abstract - A poem by Lorraine Stark

Abstract

Why does the artist paint pictures
Why does the poet write both convey
Thoughts for everyone and sometimes
They themselves do not understand why
This drive this urgency to tell a story on
Canvas or left on pages as each uses his
Gift his soul to bring some sense to this
So called normal state of living we define
For ourselves each day so that perhaps there
May exist a sanctuary somewhere away
From it all where we can concentrate on
A focal point that is stationary and is in
Proper perspective and blind folds do not
Cover what is but first you have to realize it
All depends upon the way you see the picture
And read the words that beckon our minds our
Hearts to bring some kind of tranquility where
It is impossible to find

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash

Morning Minute: Wednesday, March 24, 2021

News About Town: Outdoor concerts will begin again in Stumptown Park this April, on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month. Space is limited to 350 individuals and will be tracked through ticket sales, which will be available through Matthewsfun.com two weeks before the concert. Tickets for the first concert, Late Night Special, go on sale March 29. Seating is marked by eight-foot circles on the lawn and gravel (with six feet between) to fit "pods" of two or four attendees. Concerts start at 6 pm (entry to the park opens at 5). On the lineup:

• April 9 - Late Night Special Band (Modern, Soulful Rock; tickets on sale March 29-April 9)

• April 23 - REO Speedway/Survivor Tribute Band (Cover Band; tickets on sale April 12-April 23)

• May 14 - Band of Oz (Carolina Beach Music; tickets on sale April 26-May 14)

• May 28 - Terrence Young Experience (Jazz Guitar; tickets on sale May 17-May 28)

News Around Town: Construction has begun on the up-fit of the Rite Aid building at the corner of Matthews Township and West John. The Keith Corporation purchased the former drug store in 2019 and is renovating it into medical offices. Most recently Tryon Medical used the site for COVID-19 testing. Elevations were approved as an Administrative Amendment by the Town Council in March 2020 and renderings of what the building will look like can be found here.

One Good Thing: Watch the State of the County address. County Commission Chair George Dunlap covers a wide range of local issues, from the impact of COVID to housing and food insecurity. Learn what lessons have been learned and what the future holds under Chairman Dunlap’s leadership.

Morning Minute: Monday, March 22, 2021

News About Town: One of the most exciting lines on the Monday Board of Commissioners agenda is line 11G: Consider Street Closures for Possible 2021 Special Events. The events depend on the Governor’s Orders and include: Matthews Fourth of July Family Parade (July 3), Matthews Alive (September 3-6), and the Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting Celebration (December 4).

Future peaches growing in Matthews

News Around Town: Seung and Bok Back, famously of Sam’s Shoe Repair and Dry Cleaners, have closed up shop to move to Atlanta. The shop had several homes within downtown Matthews through its 20-ish year run, most recently at 106 North Trade Street. Without a doubt, they will be missed. (Thank you, Pressly, for sharing this news.)

One Fun Thing: We mentioned a few days ago that the Town of Matthews will host a community-wide clean-up, "Keep Matthews Beautiful," on Saturday, April 17 from 8 to noon. Now’s your opportunity to join in the fun. Get a group of litter swatters together and clean up your neighborhood. If you want, the Town can assign you an area. The Town will also provide the necessary trash-picking accoutrements: trash bags, trash pickers, gloves, and safety vests. Sign up here.

Morning Minute: Thursday, March 18, 2021

News About Town: The Monday, March 8 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The Board will meet via Zoom (link here, meeting ID 964 0353 4859). To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter the meeting ID 964 0353 4859. A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

Items of note include two items involving Stumptown Park. First, Ralph Ramseur, Landscape Manager and Town Arborist will present an integrated turf management plan for the park, which will measure the effectiveness and cost of an organic maintenance approach. Then, the Board of Commissioners will consider naming options for the park with consideration of the addition to and refurbishment of the memorial area by Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235. Three different actions (yes/no votes) will determine the future name of the property surrounding the veterans memorials:

1. Rename Entire Park to Stumptown Veterans Memorial Park: The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Advisory Committee (PRaCRAC) and Matthews Veterans Advisory Committee (MVAC) have had several public hearings recently whether to add the words “Veterans Memorial” to the name Stumptown Park. The recommendation by the Advisory Committees was not to do this.

2. Designate a Veterans Memorial adjacent to Stumptown Park: After determining the name change was not recommended, a compromise was reached by both committees. This compromise is to have a Veterans Memorial area, which will be considered a pocket park adjacent to Stumptown Park.

3. Engage Landscape Architect to Design Veterans Memorial Pocket Park Delineations: The Town will hire a landscape architect to create a design that defines the Veterans Memorial Park area.

Image via Unsplash

News Around Town: As of March 11, 97% of the residents at Windsor Run are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. CVS provided on-campus vaccinations for residents of the Erickson development. Executive Director George Comfort stated, “I’m proud of the exceptional results we have achieved by working together – and I’m thrilled that so many of our residents now have an additional level of protection against COVID-19.”
Residents, staff and visitors continue to follow the Three Ws to maintain safety on the Windsor Run campus.

One Good Thing: Speaking of vaccinations, the County now has the Johnson &Johnson COVID Vaccine specifically earmarked for county residents unable to leave their homes. More information, including a link to the request form, can be found here. {Thanks for the great tip, John!}

Morning Minute: Wednesday, March 17, 2021

News About Town: The Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Department (ToMPRCRD <—-let’s go ahead and pronounce that Tom PreCard) seeks an artist to create a mural design for the Crestdale neighborhood of Matthews. The design should be inspired by the historic Crestdale community to highlight the Crestdale Heritage Trail. Painting the mural will be a collaborative process with community members involved. There is an application process and artists must be 18 or older and eligible to work in the US. Find out further details here.

News Around Town: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Weather Warning for Thursday. According to the service, “Potential severe weather will be in store for the entire area on Thursday. Main threats will be damaging winds, large hail, and an isolated tornado or two.” If 2020 taught us anything, these warnings should be taken seriously. For follow up reports, see the National Weather Service website.

One Good Thing: Join the Mecklenburg County COVID-19 Renewal and Recovery Task Force for a virtual town hall this Thursday, March 18 from 6 - 7:30 pm. Centering around the detrimental effect that COVID-19 has had on mental health and childcare and family services in the community, experts will highlight the various ways COVID-19 has impacted childcare and family service providers. Register here.

Bleeding Hearts - A cinquain by Lorraine Stark

Bleeding Hearts

Planted
in jagged rows
they appear on curved stems
tiny pink hearts that seem to bleed
pink buds

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash

Morning Minute: Monday, March 15, 2021

News About Town: Easter in the time of COVID looks a little different than years past, but that doesn’t mean the Town of Matthews hasn’t planned some fun. Follow the signs on the greenway (near the entrance to the South Trade entrance) this Saturday, March 20 from 10 am to noon, and find the Easter Bunny to snap the annual family photo! Our cotton-tailed friend will be out and looking for bicyclists along the greenway--a few lucky kids will get a free bike helmet. If it rains and you haven't had your fill of fluff, head on over to the Matthews Community Center to find the fuzz.

Can’t make it to the trail? Bring the bunny to you! For a small fee, the Easter Bunny will pack up some goodies and visit homes in the 28105 zip code. RSVP for a time slot on the Parks and Rec activity page. At the time of this writing, there were only a couple of spots left, but it looks like a waiting list is available.

News Around Town: In accordance with the Governor’s orders, COVID vaccines will be available to Group 4 starting Wednesday. According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Group 4 includes anyone 16-64 years old with one or more high-risk medical conditions for severe disease from COVID-19, people living in close group settings, and essential workers who have not yet been eligible. This group also includes smokers (former and current), diabetics, and those with asthma. Many more conditions are on the list, found here. Register for the county's clinic at Bojangles Coliseum through StarMed. Atrium Health and Novant Health are offering vaccines by appointment as well. 

One Good Thing: The Matthews Woman’s Club Service League is hosting a blood drive on Sunday, March 21. The One Blood Bus will be at the Woman’s Club, 208 S Trade St., from noon to 6 pm. When you give blood, you’ll get a wellness check up, antibody test, blood pressure taken, iron count, and cholesterol screening. If a health check up isn’t incentive enough, you’ll also get a tie dye tee shirt and $10 eGift card! Sign up online using sponsor code 63852.

Morning Minute: Thursday, March 11, 2021

News About Town: According to the Public Works Department of Matthews, trash and debris have become more noticeable on state roads since the pandemic began. As a result of resident concerns, the Town of Matthews has a clean up plan in place. Trash accumulated along state roads is the responsibility of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), which will begin mowing operations again in early April. Prior to mowing, NCDOT will remove litter and debris.

The Town of Matthews has been working for the past several months with the Eastwood Forest  neighborhood (this neighborhood is often used as a cut through from East John to Pleasant Plains) to work with homeowners to remove visible trash and debris violations. Clean up efforts have been successful and remain ongoing. For many, not just in this neighborhood, the problem is simply not knowing that large object pick up is by request only. Schedule by calling 704-393-6900. For further details on waste guidelines, visit the Public Works webpage.

To further expand the efforts of town-wide beautification, the Town and Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful will host a community-wide cleanup on Saturday, April 17, from 9 am. to 12 pm. Tools like trash grabbers and safety vests will be provided. Look for further updates on this litter sweep soon.

Image via Unsplash photographer @elizabeth_mcdaniel

News Around Town: Check out the newest art piece in the Pollinator Garden of Country Place Park (corner of Country Place & S Trade). On January 29, local beekeepers and HAWK representatives hung a ceramic butterfly mobile made by beekeeper, potter, and Matthews resident Phil St Martin. Find the mobile in the tree closest to metalsmith Amy Hart’s upcycled bee sculpture.

Morning Minute: Monday, March 8, 2021

News About Town: Several advisory board meetings are coming up. Tomorrow, March 9, at 6:30 pm, the
Matthews Committee on Education will hold a remote meeting. At 7 pm the Environmental Advisory Committee will hold their monthly meeting at the Public Works Facility. The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Advisory Board meets at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, March 10, via Zoom. The Appearance/Tree Committee will have a meeting Monday, March 15 at 7 pm on Zoom and Tuesday, March 16, the Planning Board and Cultural Diversity Committee will hold a joint meeting via Zoom at 7 pm; they will each have their regular meetings at 7 pm on March 23, as well (Remote Planning Board, Cultural Diversity Committee). On the 18th at 7 pm, the Transportation Advisory Committee will hold a remote meeting.

Follow the calendar on the Town’s website for changes and updates.

News Around Town: Matthews Playhouse and the African American Playwrights Group recently announced the semi-finalist winners for the Playwright’s Festival. The Playhouse will host a reading from each semi-finalist on April 10. A panel of judges will determine the winning submission, which will be incorporated into the 2021-22 Matthews Playhouse season as either a one-act or full-length play the weekend of Sept. 10-12.

Kenyatt Godbolt’s Kings Without a Queen. Kenyatt is a speech pathologist who serves children with communication delays in Rowan and Cabarrus counties. In his first play, Kenyatt tells a complicated story about an unfaithful, middle-aged divorcee, David, who impregnates the mother of his son’s girlfriend. David struggles to accept personal responsibility while parenting his two sons without help.

Raven Monroe’s Love & Justice and Other Fairy Tales. Raven is a writer and actor with a BA in Theatre from UNC Charlotte and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Tisch School of the Arts. Her work helps “diverse audiences expand their imaginings of who they are allowed to be.”

Rory Sheriff’s Speakeasy. Rory is a playwright, director, and producer. He’s also the CEO and Chief Executive Director of Brand New Sheriff, a nonprofit theater group that has been making

Crystal Joseph’s Cancer: A Love Story. Crystal Joseph is Executive Director and CEO of Crystal Clear Storyz, a local organization that utilizes various forms of creative arts to inspire, uplift and provide mental, emotional and spiritual healing.

Morning Minute: Friday, March 5, 2021

News About Town: The County Public Health department is hosting a vaccination event on Tuesday, March 9 at the Sportsplex, 2425 Sports Parkway, Matthews. The appointment-only clinic will vaccinate people who fall into Groups 1 through 3. Eligible people include:

Persons 65 and older, healthcare and public health workers, and frontline essential workers who are required to be on-site for work (including critical manufacturing, education and childcare, essential goods, food and agriculture, government and community services, public safety, and transportation).

Make an appointment here or call 980-314-9400, option 3 to schedule an appointment. If you have any questions, please email the Department of Public Health at MeckCVMS@mecknc.gov or call 980-314-9400 Option 3.

If you’re eligible as a member of Groups 1-3, vaccines will be available in Matthews at the Sportsplex next Tuesday, March 9.

News Around Town: Speaking of the Sportsplex, the Mecklenburg County facility won a Pioneer Athletics 2020 Fields of Excellence Award for the second year in a row. Pioneer Athletics, a manufacturer of field paints, honored 73 facilities across the country that adapted, delivered and exemplified excellence and dedication to their communities in 2020.

Morning Minute: Thursday, March 4, 2021

News About Town: The Monday, March 8 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The Board will meet via Zoom (link here, meeting ID 968 7502 7732). To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter the meeting ID 950 3721 0068. A livestream of the meeting will also be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel. For more information, including the process for public comment, visit the town website.

During the early meeting (5:30 pm) The Board of Commissioners will hear from CATS staff about the specific recommended alignment of the Silver Line through Matthews. Specific key points include the N. Trade St and Matthews St intersection analysis, as well as feedback from the most recent CATS/Silver Line public engagement session.

The regular Board of Commissioners meeting starts at 7 pm.

Items of note:

As the first meeting of the month, there’s lots of zoning. First up are public hearings. After each overview of the project and a short question/answer period by the Board of Commissioners and the Planning Board, the floor will be opened to public comment for each of the following applications:

Zoning Application 2020-725/Moore (and accompanying Zoning Application 2021-728/private streets text): A proposed development for up to 16 duplexes at 2132 Pleasant Plains Road. The accompanying application is to allow a privately maintained street in the development.

Zoning Application 2021-726/MUD text that accompanies Zoning Application 2021-727/Greylock Ridge Townhomes: 75 townhomes that will sandwich the future Greylock Ridge Extension, connecting John Street to Charles/Tank Town Road. A text change to the Unified Development Ordinance is required because currently a mixed-use development (MUD) zoning requires the lot to be at least 15 acres. The site for the proposed townhomes is 7.3 acres.

There are also two action items the Board will vote on:

Zoning Application 2020-722/Capital Independence: A multi-use development with 216 units in a variety of housing types.

Zoning Application 2020-724/Park Place Phase 3: A request by a developer to build six townhomes on a lot already approved for five.

Curved Beauty - A cinquain by Lorraine Stark

Curved Beauty

Seahorse
like the letter
‘S’, floats without effort
as it prances in the ocean
waters

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash @davidclode