Morning Minute: Wednesday, November 10, 2021

News About Town: Election day is over and the new Board of Commissioners will be installed on December 13. Incumbent and unchallenged Mayor John Higdon received 2,087 votes. Four incumbents received the top votes for the board, including presumptive Mayor Pro Tem Ken McCool (1,670), Renee Garner (1,650), Larry Whitley (1,604), John R. Urban (1,530). Two newcomers will join the Board this December for the 2022-2021 term: Mark Tofano with 1,435 votes, and Gina Hoover with 1,287. Two candidates were not elected: Danielle (Dani) Burnham and Heather Spicer Laws.

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News Around Town: County Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell will host an information-packed District 6 Community Update Meeting on Wednesday, November 17, from 6:00 to 7:00pm. The Zoom meeting will cover District 6 Investments in Parks and Schools, the BOCC Economic Development Committee work, Community Service Grants, and the upcoming property revaluation. Also learn about Federal American Rescue Plan Act (also known as ARPA) Funds received from the federal government. The Mecklenburg County Assessor’s Office, and County’s Park and Recreation Department will make presentations, as well. For meeting link/access contact Shalon Page, Board Support Assistant,  at (980)219-3514 or via email at Shalon.Genwright@MeckNC.gov.  

One Good Thing: The Matthews Habitat for Humanity has expanded its reach to include critical home repairs. Moving beyond the scope of building new homes, this program is for Matthews homeowners who are current on taxes and payments and meet income criteria. The Critical Home Repair Program is for low-income residents who have repair needs around their home that create an unsafe or unhealthy living situation, such as a failing roof or necessary accessibility modifications. Download an application or pick one up Tuesday through Saturday at the Greater Matthews Habitat ReStore, 2447 East John Street.

Roadblock, a poem by Lorraine Stark

Roadblock

Four lanes of traffic
Came to a sudden stop
Cars in the back blasting
Their horns they couldn’t see
The smiles upon the faces of
The drivers up front for a
Duck and her ducklings had to
Reach a certain piece of grass
Which happened to be on the
Other side of the road and the
Cars presented no obstacle for
This was the path she chose and
She wouldn’t consider another
As she proceeded she spoke
To her children they listened to
Each quack and single file they
Made it safely across as strangers
Cheered and clapped then got back into
Their cars each continuing to a
Different destination still thinking
About those few minutes before when the
World was a friendlier place thanks to the
Ducks and their mission as a feather floated
In the air an ordinary day was left a
Souvenir

By Lorraine Star

Image via Unsplash @tchompalov

Morning Minute: Monday, November 8, 2021

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners meeting agenda for Monday, November 8, is available online. The meeting is remote via Zoom (link here) or listen by calling toll free 888-788-0099 and entering the meeting ID 821 2799 4175. 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 include:

•  Zoning Application 2021-737/Mt. Harmony Cottages requests changing the zoning from R-15 to R-9(CD), allows a smaller lot size per home and for conditions set by the Board to be met prior to construction at 2700 Mt. Harmony Church Road.

• Motion 2021-3/text is an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance that updates language, further defines improvement standards, clarifies expectations of data presented in the Transportation Impact Analysis, and sets accessibility standards, among other aspects of the physical development of the Town.

• The Eastern Gateway Small Area Plan, an area approximately 120 acres bounded by I-485, Idlewild Road and the Windrow neighborhood, will be voted on. The Plan examines existing conditions and infrastructure to provide recommendations for future land use decisions.

• E-Scooters in Matthews.

• The Public Improvement Variance and Site Plan at 9508 Northeast Parkway & 1939 Rice Road are two separate items that cover redevelopment of a large parcel near the corner of Independence and Sam Newell.

• Consider an additional Town Contribution to the Four Mile Creek Greenway/S. Trade Street Tunnel.

Thank you, Christine Parks, for the photo contribution. Share your photo with Beacon readers, just send something over!

News About Town: The Town of Matthews, Matthews HELP Center, Matthews Police Department, Matthews United Methodist Church, and Kiwanis Club of Matthews are partnering for the 2021 Matthews Gives Back for the Holidays. Bring new, unwrapped toys (appropriate for newborn to age 12) or gift cards (appropriate for ages 13 to 18) to the Police Department (1201 Crews Road) or the HELP Center (119 N. Ames Street). Need help picking out a gift? The HELP Center has an Target and Amazon Wish Lists. If you’re avoiding mega retailers, there’s a general list here. Applications are open now through December 3 for gift support. Call 704-847-8383 x224 for more information. Recipients must live within the HELP Center service area.

Don’t Forget: Going into the holiday season it may be even more difficult to get a COVID-19 test appointment. To make testing more accessible, the county is now offering free rapid test kits at four Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library sites: South Boulevard, West Boulevard, Hickory Creek and North Tryon. Both PCR and rapid tests are available through the StarMed drive-through clinic in Matthews, located in the Cinemark 10 Movie Theater parking lot, 9508 Northeast Court.

Morning Minute: Friday, October 15, 2021

News About Town: Bloodhounds from all over the US will gather in Matthews this Sunday to begin the National Police Bloodhound Association K-9 training seminar. Up to 50 dogs and their handlers will be in Matthews, learning new methodology for tracking both people and drugs. Training runs through Thursday, October 21 in various locations throughout town.

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News About Town: The Matthews Chamber of Commerce, 210 Matthews Station St, is hosting Fall for Matthews tomorrow, October 16 from 10am to 4pm. Sip and stroll through arts and crafts and local business booths. Enjoy the pumpkin patch and petting zoo in the kids area. Don’t forget to arrive hungry and get a bite to eat from one of the food vendors.

Don’t Forget: This Saturday (October 16) is Kids In Nature Day. Stop by Squirrel Lake Park (1631 Pleasant Plains Road) from 10am-1pm and bring the kids to enjoy a fun fall day. From fishing, nature hikes, scavenger hunts to crafts and games the kids are guaranteed to have a great time.

Morning Minute: Thursday, October 14, 2021

News About Town: Many town documents are not policy documents but serve as idea books for future planning; the Composite Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan (CBPP) is one such planning document. The CBPP keeps an inventory of greenways, bike trails, sidewalks, and other paths, while defining future functionality and possible connectivity to increase transportation options. Having a documented plan also makes some projects eligible for funding through transportation grants. The Board of Commissioners approved updates to the CBPP this past Monday to include new items such as the Silverline Rail Trail. See the changes (in red) here.

Thank you, Kathleen Bellavia for the photo! Share your photo with Beacon readers.

News About Town: There’s a new COVID testing facility in Matthews and it’s free. StarMed , the same organization that has served the county at Bojangles Coliseum, has a drive thru testing facility set up in the parking lot of the now-closed Cinemark Movies 10 parking lot (9508 Northeast Ct.) Fill out an online questionnaire, receive a confirmation number, and drive on up. StarMed offers both PCR and rapid tests.

One Good Thing: Congratulations are in order for the Butler High School Marching Band and Color Guard. The Bulldogs won place in music, visual, percussion, and color-guard as well as the Grand Champion title in the silver division at competition in Boiling Springs, SC this past Saturday, October 9.

Morning Minute: Wednesday, October 13, 2021

News About Town: Town Planner Rob Will and Town Transportation Engineer Susan Habina Woolard presented a possible update to the Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) Ordinances for public hearing at the Monday night Board of Commissioners meeting. TIAs are summarized in Staff Reports for some rezonings (an example from a previous, unapproved project is here) and are technical documents that show the vehicular impact of future development. The anticipated ordinances and guidelines for TIAs will involve multi-modal transportation in addition to vehicular capacity and queuing.

Thank you, Molly Hedrick Butts, for sharing Ben Better’s spooky exploits with us! Share your photo with Beacon readers.

News About Town: We posted about Mecklenburg County’s HOMES grant program, a property tax assistance program for qualified residential homeowners, but neglected to provide a link. Find out the important details here.

The county also has a survey open to gather community feedback regarding the disbursement of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Livable Meck and the County’s Public Information Department want to identify Mecklenburg residents’ funding priorities to share the results with the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners to better inform the Commission’s upcoming funding decisions. Participate by completing the online survey at LivableMeck.com by October 20, 2021. 

One Fun Thing: Matthews HELP Center’s favorite seasonal volunteer, Ben Better, is back for the month of October. Stop by and find him then head in the shop to snag a Halloween costume at an amazing price. Ben says their prices are so good, they’re scary!

Morning Minute: Monday, October 11, 2021

News About Town: For the past two years the Police Department has been researching computer simulated training devices, looking for just the right one for the Matthews department. Enter VirTra, which offers the versatility and consistency needed by the department. Training courses include de-escalation, mental illness encounters, and working with special populations such as autistic people. The training courses teach officers to look for both verbal and non-verbal cues in order to gain confidence in de-escalation and using human behavior recognition techniques. The Board of Commissioners will vote whether purchasing the simulator, which will cost the department just under $120,000 in Federal Forfeiture funds, should be approved.

Judging by the pile of garbage bags afterward, the Irvins Creek Clean Up this past Saturday was a success!

News Around Town: Mecklenburg County’s HOMES grant program is accepting applications now through the end of October. This program is designed to assist qualified residential homeowners with low to moderate income within Mecklenburg County to retain their homes by reducing the financial burden resulting from the robust real estate market. Grant recipients will receive up to $340 toward their property tax bill. Families making 80% of the median income are eligible - that’s $43,120/year for a 2 person household or $53,880 for a 4 person household. Click here to apply, applications are due by 10/31. (Thanks, Kerry Fluty, for writing up this big bite of Beacon!)

One Good Thing: Join Matthews Police and Standing Ovation Barber Shop, 167 S. Trade St. H, for the second Clippers and Cops community chat. Head on over to discuss race relations and community concerns in Matthews, starting at 9am.

Morning Minute: Friday, October 8, 2021

News About Town: The Board of Commissioners meeting agenda for Monday, October 11, is available online. The meeting is remote via Zoom (link here) or listen by calling toll free 888-788-0099 and entering the meeting ID 817 5441 3662. 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, but are not limited to:

• A proclamation declaring October as National Arts and Humanities Month in Matthews;

• A public hearing for the Eastern Gateway Small Area Plan;

• A proposal to complete sidewalk gaps on Moore Road and Marglyn Drive;

• Consideration of updates to the Composite Bike/Pedestrian Plan.

Photo kindly submitted by reader Barbara Myers.

News Around Town: With COVID precautions in place many of the usual forums aren't happening. If you missed the Matthews Mint Hill Weekly Candidate Forum, you can watch it online. ASC published responses to their candidate survey recently. The League of Women Voters also sent out a candidate survey but has not published the responses yet. 

One Good Thing: Healthy streams clean the groundwater supply and provide filtration of pollution. They also provide good habitat for fish and other water-loving creatures. Join Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services tomorrow, October 9 from 9 am to noon, at 9614 Independence Pointe Parkway to clean up Irvins Creek Tributary. Register here.

High Notes, a cinquain by Lorraine Stark

High Notes

Upon
wires magpies
stand ready looking just
like musical notes on a score
balanced

balanced
these musicians
dressed in black attire
begin in unison their song
cawing

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash @jdsmacinnes

Morning Minute: Wednesday, October 6, 2021

News About Town: During the morning commute yesterday (October 5 around 7:03am), Matthews Police patrol officers were called to I-485 near Idlewild Road after a man reported being shot at while driving. The victim did not recognize the shooter and described the car as a grey sedan. Shattered glass caused minor injury to the victim, who was otherwise unharmed. If you have any information regarding this crime, contact Detective Lori Valdes at lvaldes@matthewsnc.gov or 704-841-6717.

Malachite butterfly in the butterfly tent at Matthews Alive! several years ago. Photo kindly submitted by reader Mary Magee.

News Around Town: Fall into Nature on Saturday, 10/16 at Kids In Nature Day. The return of this annual Fall family event is located at Squirrel Lake Park (1631 Pleasant Plains Road) in Matthews from 10am-1pm. Come join Habitat and Wildlife Keepers, NCWF’s Great Outdoors University, and the Town of Matthews and bring the kids to enjoy a fun fall day at the park. From fishing, nature hikes, scavenger hunts to crafts and games the kids are guaranteed to have a great time. Also, new this year is a special area devoted to showing parents how to turn their own backyards into a Certified Wildlife Habitat. A Certified Wildlife Habitat not only benefits local wildlife, it provides teaching moments for kids and is pure family entertainment right in your own backyard. (h/t to HAWK for the info!)

One Good Thing: Flex your mental muscles when you WFH with the Backyard Naturalists podcast. You’ll hear the familiar voices of Debbie LeBlanc Foster and Laurie Horne as they explore nature in the Charlotte area. Episodes have already included popular topics like creating a wildlife habitat, how to spot a copperhead (FYI according to NextDoor there is no shortage of copperheads in the area), and how to incorporate water into your landscape. With a wealth of knowledge, the Naturalists are sure to educate and entertain.

Morning Minute: Tuesday, October 5, 2021

News About Town: Several advisory board meetings are coming up: The Veterans Advisory Committee meets this Wednesday, October 6, at 7 pm. Monday, October 11, the Board of Commissioners will hold a regular meeting at 7pm (the second one in October is on the 25th). On Tuesday, October 12, the Matthews Committee on Education will hold a remote meeting at 6:45pm; at 7pm that same night the Environmental Advisory Committee will hold their monthly meeting. At 6:30pm, Wednesday, October 13, the Parks, Rec, and Cultural Advisory Committee will meet. The Appearance/Tree Committee meets on Monday, October 18 at 7pm and the Transportation Advisory Committee meets Thursday, October 21 at 7pm. The Planning Board and the Cultural Diversity Committee both have meetings on Tuesday, October 26 at 7pm. Check out the town calendar for more happenings.

Malachite butterfly in the butterfly tent at Matthews Alive! several years ago. Photo kindly submitted by reader Mary Magee.

News Around Town: October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a month to focus on connecting nonprofits and initiatives working with domestic violence issues, as well as a time to bring awareness to domestic violence. Search social media with #WeAreResilient this month. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime, and women between the ages of 18-24 are most commonly abused by an intimate partner. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the Greater Charlotte Hope Line (980-771-4673) is a local, 24-hour hotline for domestic violence or sexual assault support. They also offer parenting support and can connect survivors with domestic violence shelters.

One Good Thing: With campaigning in full swing it's time to learn about the candidates and where they stand on the issues. There's no better opportunity than the Matthews Mint Hill Weekly's Candidate Forum this Wednesday, October 6, at 6pm at the Levine Senior Center (1050 Devore Ln). Laura Budd from Weaver, Budd Law will facilitate the forum and questions will be collected beforehand and from attendees.

Morning Minute: Thursday, September 30, 2021

News About Town: The Town of Matthews issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Fire Station 3. The fire station will be built east of Independence, just across from Purser Hulsey Park. The 4.5 acre lot was purchased in March of this year. The new station is strategically located to provide fire protection to the areas furthest from current stations. Fire Station 3 will have three bays for trucks in an approximately 10,000 square foot building that includes decontamination rooms, some training tools, fitness equipment, sleeping quarters and all the amenities of home for emergency personnel.

Photo submission by the Duncans.

News Around Town: For those who love those shower acoustics, this Friday you have a chance to show your windpipes off in public. Head over to Jekyll & Heide, 316 N. Trade St., at 7pm to Sing Your Heart Out, a charity karaoke event to benefit three local nonprofits who collaborate as the Greater Matthews Local Family Network (the members are C.O.S.Kids, Matthews Help Center, and Matthews Free Medical Clinic). Weaver, Bennett & Bland are partnering with Edward Jones/Desi Dufresne to host and guarantee the fun. Speaking from experience, you’re going to want to hear Weaver, Bennett & Bland attorneys Matt Villmer and Bo Caudill belt out a duet. Trust us.

One Fun Thing: National Voter Registration Day was earlier this week, but it’s not too late to check your voter registration or register to vote. You can also register to vote the same day as you vote early voting.

Harvest, a cinquain by Lorraine Stark

Harvest

Harvest
moon in autumn
sheds light upon the leaves
slumbering till morning breezes
stir them

By Lorraine Stark

Image via Unsplash @kaip

Morning Minute: Wednesday, September 29, 2021

News About Town: The Monday night Board of Commissioners Meeting went a little longer than usual for the second meeting of the month. Stretching until nearly midnight, the meeting was closed out with a personal note from long-time Town Manager Hazen Blodgett when he shared retirement plans set for the end of March 2022. The Town Manager reports to the Board of Commissioners, and tenure is generally seven to eight years. Town Manager Blodgett came from the City of Whiteville and has served as the Town Manager of Matthews for 18 years.

Photo submission by reader Barbara Myers.

One Fun Thing: We’re teaming up with Mad Jack’s Records and Comics (inside Precious Restorations, 315 W. John St.) to bring you a record of the week. This week Jack has picked out Jimi Hendrix’s Are You Experienced re-issue on 180g vinyl for your aural delight. According to the Madman himself, “This is Jimi Hendrix 1967 debut. This album has set the precedent for aspiring guitar players and song writers for over 50 years and still holds strong today!” The album includes the hits Purple Haze, Hey Joe, and Foxey Lady.

Morning Minute: Monday, September 27, 2021

News About Town: The Police Department has leveled up on their communications game, adding beautifully produced videos to their Facebook page. Catch up on departmental operations, moving stories of loss, and learn about the force's newest members. Watch the recent promotion ceremony and share joy with the proud families who serve behind the scenes with our men and women in blue.

Photo submission by Kathy Bellavia

News Around Town: Thursday, October 7, from 7 to 8pm, several Mecklenburg County delegates to the NC General Assembly are hosting an online listening session. Sign up and tune in to share your thoughts on current events, and hear what other people in the community are thinking about. State representatives, including Matthews' Representative Rachel Hunt, and senators will use the time to respond to constituent questions.

One Fun Thing: Make Wednesday, September 29, pizza night at the Pizza Peel. Your purchase is not only good toyour taste buds, 10% of sales at the 110 Matthews Station St. location will be donated to Matthews Athletic Recreation Association. Dine in or conveniently order online for delivery or carryout. Dinner is served.