Morning Minute: Wednesday, June 9, 2021

News About Town: On May 24, the Police Department held their Annual Awards Ceremony at the Matthews Community Center. Prior to the awards, the department recognized recent promotions within the department. There are a great many officers and staff within the department to recognize. We’ll share the awards in Friday’s Morning Minute.

• Det. Nicole Fiato was promoted to Detective from Officer and will be assigned to the Street Crimes Unit;

• Det. Sgt. Chris Duryee was promoted to Sergeant from Corporal and will be assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division;

• Sgt. Nick Helms was promoted to Sergeant from Corporal and will be assigned to the Patrol Division;

• Sgt. Lance Paugh was promoted to Sergeant from Corporal and will be assigned to the Patrol Division;

• Sgt. Julius Robertson was promoted to Sergeant from Officer and will be assigned to the Patrol Division as a School Resource Supervisor;

• Lt. Grant Nelson was promoted to Lieutenant from Sergeant and will be assigned as the Commander of Patrol Division 2 of the Operational Services Bureau;

• Lt. Jeff Troyer was promoted to Lieutenant from Sergeant and will be assigned as the Commander of the Office of Professional Standards of the Special Services Bureau;

• Lt. Steven Rozina was promoted to Lieutenant from Sergeant and will be assigned as the Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Support Services Bureau;

The department also recognized Lt. David Ruby. After 26 years of dedicated service to the Matthews Police Department (30 in law enforcement), Lt. Ruby, Commander of the Office of Professional Standards, retired.

One Good Thing: The Town of Matthews Parks, Rec, and Cultural Resources Department would love to hear your thoughts on an upcoming mural project in downtown Matthews. The mural, to be located on the outside of the Loyalist’s patio (435 N. Trade St. #102), will be created by internationally recognized Charlotte artist Osiris Rain. Tune into the Advisory Committee meeting taking place on July 14, 2021 at 6:30pm to see two options and add to the conversation. This meeting will be virtual; find more information here.

No Requests, a poem by Lorraine Stark

No Requests

Sunsets
Require no
Requests
They silently
Come and go
Like dreams
And return
Just as faithfully
Like an
Old friend

by Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash photographer @joeting

Morning Minute: Monday, June 7, 2021

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners will meet with town staff for a FY 21/22 Budget Workshop tonight at 6 pm at Town Hall. This is the third budget meeting. The Board will have a Public Hearing for budget input at the June 14 meeting. Currently the Town Manager is requesting a 1.5-cent property tax increase from .28 to .295.

A livestream of the meeting will be available via the Town of Matthews YouTube Channel, as well as Zoom. To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter meeting ID 958 3933 3558. For the full agenda and the process for public comment, visit the town website.

News Around Town: Skip the summer learning backwards slide by signing up for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library’s Summer Break. Sign up to participate then read 30 minutes a day, complete five other fun activities, and win prizes. Starting today and running through August 14, the library has a community goal to log 35,000,000 hours of reading this summer.

One Good Thing: Matthews Playhouse has two more performances of Godspell at Stumptown Park next weekend (June 12 and 13, both at 7:30 pm). The play features a small band on stage whose music sets the parables of Jesus to life. The actors are an array of personalities seeking to better understand the teachings of Jesus in a modern and engaging way. Don’t miss this show! The tickets are $10 a person (minimum $20) per four-person pod.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, May 26, 2021

News About Town: Matthews monarchs are going to be extra happy this year—and no, we won't be seeing the queen. This past Saturday, May 22, the Appearance and Tree Committee (an advisory board to the Board of Commissioners) hosted a drive through milkweed sale. Milkweed, the host plant for monarchs, sustain the butterflies on their annual migration. Having access to milkweed is a major cornerstone in their survival. During the sale, the committee sold 200 plants in an hour and a half!

Image via Unsplash photographer @aaronburden

News Around Town: Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235 is hosting the annual Memorial Day Celebration this Monday, May 31, at Stumptown Park and the Matthews Veterans Memorial Park, 120 South Trade Street. The Matthews Concert Band will play at this bring-your-own-chair event starting at 10:30am. The ceremony begins at 11.

One Fun Thing: Zab’s is hosting Upcycle University on June 2 from 5 to 6pm. This time around learn how to turn candle holders, trays, platters, pie and/or cake pans into a tiered stand that can be used in all sorts of decorative ways. The event is suitable for people of all abilities, ages 16 and up. The cost is $8, and masks and social distancing are required.

Don’t Forget:

• Transit Oriented Development Series with CATS: TOD: Building Equity as Part of Transit & TOD, Thursday, May 27, 1-3pm, register here.

• Hooks-Orr American Legion Post 235 Annual Memorial Day Celebration, Monday, May 31, at Stumptown Park and the Matthews Veterans Memorial Park, 120 South Trade Street. The Matthews Concert Band will play at 10:30am. The ceremony begins at 11.

• Cruise for a Cause: Jekyll and Hyde’s Fathers Day Car Show and Cruise, 316 N Trade St, Matthews,Sunday, June 20, noon-2pm.

Lilacs, a poem by Lorraine Stark

Lilacs

Lilacs
Lavender blue
Embracing my senses
With your exotic scent
Drifting with each breeze
Late in the afternoon
You sneak right up and deliver
This essence that surely
Must come straight from
Heaven

by Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash photographer @kellysikkema

Morning Minute: Monday, May 24, 2021

News About Town: Tonight’s Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The Board will meet via Zoom (link here, meeting ID 938 2467 3407). To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter the meeting ID 938 2467 3407. 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.

Some items of note for the 7pm meeting include:

• Recognition of Junteenth and Pride Month ahead of June.

• A presentation of the results of the Community Survey.

• Information on Fire & EMS Department’s branding revisions.

News Around Town: The USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program National Championships (Formerly Junior Olympics National Championships) for Level 10 athletes concluded Sunday, May 16,  in Daytona Beach, Florida. Matthews senior Lali Dekanoidze finished first in Senior D All-Around (all four events) with a score of 38.900 out of 40. In November of last year, Lali signed a National Letter of Intent for the UNC Chapel Hill Gymnastics team.

One Fun Thing: Fancy car owners, rev up your engines and head on over to Jekyll and Hyde’s event page to register for Cruise With a Cause on Sunday, June 20. The "cruise" portion of the event is driving over to the Belmont Jekyll and Hyde brewery. The registration fee is $15 a car, with proceeds going to veterans organizations. Participants will receive a goodie bag and tee shirt.

Don’t Forget:

• Transit Oriented Development Series with CATS: TOD: Building Equity as Part of Transit & TOD, Thursday, May 27, 1-3pm, register here.

• Cruise for a Cause: Jekyll and Hyde’s Fathers Day Car Show and Cruise, 316 N Trade St, Matthews,Sunday, June 20, noon-2pm.

Masterpieces in Buttercream: Miri Nadler and Ten Bloom Cakes

“I was the first cake artist in the US to exclusively decorate using palette knives, and because I had no one to teach me, I’ve developed my own signature style.”

— Miri Nadler, Cake Artist

Image via @10bloomcakes

The mason jar has gone through an evolution over the years, from its humble beginnings as a canning tool for grandma’s vegetables, to cute glasses for sweet tea in Southern-inspired restaurants.  It then morphed into vessels for centerpieces at “rustic weddings” and now has a new purpose: a take-out container for moist cake layered with delicious buttercream from Ten Bloom Cakes, a unique bakery that recently opened on Matthews Station Street.

Owner Miri Nadler, who also creates beautiful, hand-painted cakes, says she thinks of the to-go mason jar as incapsulated cake slices. “It’s also a little something our bakery can do for the environment,” she added. “When you buy a cake jar, you can keep the jar and use it for something else, recycle it, or even bring it back to the bakery and we’ll give you a dollar off your next order.”

Image via @10bloomcakes

Nadler’s mason-jar to-go offerings are unique and delicious, but the cakes are a must-see.  Her method of decorating doesn’t rely on traditional gum paste or fondant, which you can eat but has been described as tasting a little like Play-Doh.  Instead, she uses a palette knife to “paint” three-dimensional designs on cakes with buttercream and whipped cream, so every bite of the cake is a pleasant experience.  She taught herself the process of palette-knife painting on cake after seeing women in Asia using the technique on Instagram.  

“I was the first cake artist in the US to exclusively decorate using palette knives, and because I had no one to teach me, I’ve developed my own signature style,” said Nadler, who has been featured in Southern Bride, The Knot, and The B Collective, among other media outlets.  Her cakes have been described as “perfectly imperfect,” but she likes to think she “strikes the delicate balance between elegance and whimsy.”

“As a woman business owner, safety was just as important to me as accessibility, and the small-town enclave feel of Matthews checked all the boxes.”

Image via @10bloomcakes

Nadler moved from Los Angeles, where she ran a luxury bakery, to North Carolina in 2015 to be closer to family.  She chose downtown Matthews as the site of her bakery because over the past five years, she said she’s seen downtown grow into a “vibrant commercial district that is tailor-made for walking and for families. As a woman business owner, safety was just as important to me as accessibility, and the small-town enclave feel of Matthews checked all the boxes.”

She has traveled throughout the United States to teach the palette-knife decorating technique, and has also taught classes in Canada and Israel to share her knowledge of this unique style.  If you’re interested in learning more about palette-knife decorating, she is offering a class at the Matthews store at the end of May.  Follow her on Facebook and Instagram at @10bloomcakes to see pictures of her cakes and tutorials of her unique technique, and drop into the shop (130 Matthews Station St, #1-H, Matthews) to order a cake for a special occasion or pick up a mason jar of deliciousness to go!

Balloon Haiku by Lorraine Stark

Balloon Haiku

Red, yellow, purple
String attached hold on tightly
As you would your dreams

by Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash

Morning Minute: Wednesday, May 19, 2021

News Around Town: May is National Bike Month! To encourage more residents to get out on two wheels Mecklenburg County’s Park and Recreation Department, in collaboration with Public Health’s Active Living and Injury Prevention team, has launched a series of virtual educational programs. They aim to increase and improve opportunities for physical activity with a focus on bicycle and pedestrian safety.

Residents can visit the County’s YouTube page for helpful videos. The two-minute video on riding on roads without a bike lane is particularly helpful, but also check out the tutorials on the proper helmet fit and fitting a bike.

Image by Unsplash Photographer @christinhumephoto

One Good Thing: If you haven’t heard of the FCC’s EBB, maybe it’s time you did. The Emergency Broadband Benefit is a Federal Communications Commission program to alleviate the financial strain of cell phone and internet costs during the pandemic. Recipients must meet one of five eligibility requirements, apply for acceptance with the FCC program, then must contact their preferred service provider to select an Emergency Broadband Benefit eligible service plan. Charter/Spectrum and Windstream are both listed as participating providers.

Don’t Forget:

• Transit Oriented Development Series with CATS: Setting the Stage for TOD in Small and Big Cities, Thursday, May 20, 1-2:30pm, register here.  

• Moxie Mercantile (159 N. Trade St.) grand opening celebration, Saturday, May 22, 10am - 6pm, with music, champagne, and lots of shopping. The shop will open its doors May 18 at 11 am.

• Milkweed for Monarchs Plant Sale, Saturday, May 22, 9-11am.

• Transit Oriented Development Series with CATS: TOD: Building Equity as Part of Transit & TOD, Thursday, May 27, 1-3pm, register here.

Morning Minute: Monday, May 17, 2021

News About Town: Disc golfers filled Squirrel Lake Park yesterday for the PAR2 Disc Golf Tournament. Even with another tournament in Charlotte on the same day, cars overflowed from the parking lot onto Pleasant Plains Rd throughout the morning and afternoon while 181 participants played 18 par 2 holes. Parks and Rec listed the winners on Facebook as follows:

Competitive Men
1st) Brad C. +1
2nd) Fred C. +2

Competitive Women
1st) Naomi D. +16
2nd) Melora C. +18

Recreational Men
1st) Joe S. +2
T2nd) Alex A. +4
T2nd) Kris H. +4

Recreational Women
1st) Catherine S. +14
2nd) Jo Dee A. +15

Junior Boys
1st) Walker W. +11
2nd) Nils F. +20

Junior Girls
1st) Elise C. +26
2nd) Jewel S. +28

Image via Unsplash photographer @ted_johnsson

News Around Town: JC Penney shuttered its doors in Windsor Square yesterday, leaving another big box hole in local retail. Other retailers rightsizing their brick and mortar operations include Bed Bath & Beyond, DSW, and Tuesday Morning, though there is no indication that any of these shops are closing their Matthews locations.

One Good Thing: Matthews Heritage Museum needs your vote! The Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly “Best of the Weekly” contest runs until May 28. Remember to vote once per day for the Heritage Museum as the “Best Local Museum” under the Arts and Entertainment category.

Don’t Forget:

• Transit Oriented Development Series with CATS: Setting the Stage for TOD in Small and Big Cities, Thursday, May 20, 1-2:30pm, register here.  

• Moxie Mercantile (159 N. Trade St.) grand opening celebration, Saturday, May 22, 10am - 6pm, with music, champagne, and lots of shopping. The shop will open its doors May 18 at 11 am.

• Milkweed for Monarchs Plant Sale, Saturday, May 22, 9-11am.

• Transit Oriented Development Series with CATS: TOD: Building Equity as Part of Transit & TOD, Thursday, May 27, 1-3pm, register here.

Morning Minute: Friday, May 14, 2021

News About Town: Town Manager Hazen Blodgett presented the recommended budget for Town of Matthews Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-2022 during the 5:30pm Town Board meeting this past Monday.

The presented budget is $26,445,714, representing a 1.9% ($505,839) decrease from the FY20-21 amended budget of $26,951,553, and includes a 1.5-cent property tax increase from .28 to .295. This increase is designated for seven new positions to meet the operational needs of the organization. These positions include four in the Matthews Police Department, one in Matthews Fire & EMS, and two in Matthews Public Works.

A budget workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:00pm. During the workshop the Board will provide feedback and further direction for the Manager’s Budget. The public will have an opportunity for feedback during the public hearing on Monday, May 24 at 7:00pm. The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to adopt the budget at their regular meeting on Monday, June 14.

New homeowners Celestin and Marie (image courtesy Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity)

News Around Town: Moxie Mercantile is officially opening their doors at 159 N. Trade St., Matthews on May 18.  Guests can visit the 2,700 sq ft and shop from hundreds of vendors including new-to-Moxie clothing brands, locally-owned companies, female-focused small businesses, and more.

On its Grand Opening Day, May 22, Moxie will celebrate by giving back to a hyperlocal local charity partner, Thompson, where 10% of profit will benefit their Family Support and Stability program. The store will have live music and champagne throughout the day celebrate their opening. Guests are reminded to wear masks and participate in social distancing as the store will be managing capacity and implementing standard COVID-related practices.

Store hours are as follows: Tues - Friday 11am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 6pm, Sunday 12pm - 4pm.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, May 12, 2021

News About Town: At Monday’s Board of Commissioners Meeting, the Board approved two zoning related items:

• Zoning Application 2020-725/Moore: The Board approved 10 homes on the lot at 2132 Pleasant Plains Road in a vote of five to two (McCool and Urban opposed).

•  Zoning Application 2021-729/text: Amends the Unified Development Ordinance (the document that determines allowable uses in zoning matters) to add “indoor commercial recreation not otherwise listed” in the B-3 zoning district. B-3 is considered the High Rise Business District. This will allow Inner Peaks Climbing Gym to stay competitive in business while offering customers a taller climbing experience.

New homeowners Celestin and Marie (image courtesy Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity)

News Around Town: Join Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity (GMHFH) this Saturday, May 15th at 10 am, on Facebook Live to dedicate the 114th home in the Greater Matthews community with new homeowners Celestin and Marie. According to Habitat, “Celestin, and his mother Marie, will be purchasing the home through an interest-free affordable mortgage with GMHFH and contributed over 200 hours of ‘sweat equity’ in lieu of a down payment. The family, which includes Marie, her son Celestin, and four other sons, emigrated to the United States from Rwanda.” 

One Good Thing: Have a small business and want to partner with the Beacon to get your name out? We’ve got options for all price points! Contact us for community-building opportunities!

Dandelion by Lorraine Stark

Dandelion

Dandelions, ever wonder
Why they are so strong
As they take control
Make pretty bouquets
They scatter themselves
Across front lawns
A simple reason justifies
Their playful ways
After all they are part lion
Kings choose where they
Want to stay

by Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash photographer @chaurasia

Morning Minute: Monday, May 10, 2021

News About Town: Advisory board meetings are coming up this month and are a great way to keep up with everything Matthews. Both the Matthews Committee on Education (6:30pm) and the Environmental Advisory Committee (7pm) meet remotely on Tuesday, May 11. The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday, May 12, at 6:30 pm via Zoom (agenda). On Monday, May 17, the Appearance and Tree Committee will hold a Zoom meeting at 7 pm. On Thursday, May 20 at 7pm, the Transportation Advisory Committee will host their monthly meeting via Zoom. Last, but not least, the Planning Board and the Cultural Diversity Committee both are holding remote meetings on Tuesday, May 25 at 7pm.

Image via Unsplash photographer @edwardstark

News Around Town: It’s National Bike Month, and Matthews is ripe for celebrating. For the mountain biker, Matthews has Purser Hulsey Park, completed with three bike trails totaling nearly 4 1/2 miles of hilly, mostly wooded terrain. Meanwhile, the greenway has multiuse paths with ample space for a leisurely ride, but for those who prefer asphalt, check out weeklyrides.com for rides in Matthews. In the words of Queen, “Get on your bikes and ride!”

One Fun Thing: Ten Bloom Cakes (130 Matthews Station St, #1-H, in the former Edible Arts location) is hosting a cake decorating workshop on May 23. Learn to use a palette knife to form beautiful buttercream bouquets with owner Miri Nadler.

Morning Minute: Friday, May 7, 2021

News About Town: The Monday, May 10 Board of Commissioners meeting agenda is available online. The Board will meet via Zoom (link here, meeting ID 957 3791 2935). To listen live, call toll free 888-788-0099 and enter the meeting ID 957 3791 2935. 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 5:30 pm meeting is scheduled for the Board to receive the Town Manager’s budget presentation for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

Some items of note for the 7pm meeting include:

• Discussing local and national issues with NC District 9 Representative Dan Bishop.

• Motion 2021-1/text amendment: a text amendment to the UDO to allow a six-foot fence in the front yard setback along major thoroughfares with proper setbacks and vegetative screening.

• An increased cost to lease the parking lot between the railroad and Seaboard.

News Around Town: As the Silver Line plans begin to take shape, concerns regarding the possibility of accompanying development arise. Charlotte Area Transit Systems (CATS) has partnered with Urban Land Institute (ULI)-Charlotte to create a free, two-part Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Series to support those conversations around the Silver Line corridor.

Setting the Stage for TOD in Small and Big Cities (May 20, 1-2:30pm, register here) covers TOD in various forms and different contexts. Panelists will discuss how transit can enhance and preserve the places it serves by proactively managing changes as they arise.

Equitable TOD: Building Equity as Part of Transit & TOD (May 27, 1-3pm, register here) covers the equitable distribution of benefits from TOD through thoughtful strategies around affordable housing, public health, and strong local businesses.

Don’t Forget:

• Arts & Science Council’s Southeast Virtual Block Party, Thursday, May 13 at 6pm.

• Milkweed for Monarchs Plant Sale, May 22, 9-11am.