Laughs, songs and Christmas spirit
Sullivan runs into record book page 19
page 3
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Volume 7, Number 50 • Dec. 10 to 16, 2014
Light up the holiday season
The towns of Matthews and Mint Hill rang in the season last week with tree lightings and other holiday activities. See more on page 5. Courtney Schultz/MMHW photos
Dancing into the spotlight Patriot Playmakers to take stage at SETC by Courtney Schultz courtney@matthewsminthillweekly.com
Four years ago, theater students at Independence High School were looking for an outlet. Tight financial times and budget cuts had depleted their theater program, but after two years of being back in business, the Patriot Playmakers will take the stage in Chattanooga, Tennessee, at the Southeastern Theater Conference in March 2015. The cast and crew of “The Dancers” were one of only two schools that earned the honor of Overall Distinguished Play at the North Carolina Theater Conference (NCTC) high school state competition in Greensboro that earned them a place at SETC. Only 20 other schools qualified for the regional competition from 10 states in the region. The play is set in the 1950s and follows Horace (played by senior Garrett Branshaw), a lonely teenager who has an arranged date with Emily Crews (played by junior Kayla Hedrick) to attend a dance. Horace discovers that Emily is being forced to go on the date, which deters him. He then meets Mary Catherine Davis (played by senior Marissa Plondke), who is relatable and lonely like him, and the two quickly form a bond. “It’s relatable to teenagers,” said Kaitlyn Reid, (see Independence High on page 14)
Matthews business gives residents a new thrifty place by Courtney Schultz courtney@matthewsminthillweekly.com
MATTHEWS – Rabbi Bentzion Groner and his wife, Rochel, came to the Charlotte about six years ago hoping to serve the social needs of children with disabilities through the nonprofit, The Friendship Circle. Bentzion, who is a leukemia survivor, knew he wanted to serve the nonprofit world. He was recruited to serve as the
director of The Friendship Circle in New York and said he felt he had a calling to bring the organization to the Queen City. Likewise Rochel, who has a background in elementary education, felt there was an untapped need after working with students with disabilities. They decided to open up a thrift boutique, ZABS Place, located at 100 N. Trade St., at the corner of Trade and East John streets in Matthews, and hire the
young adults they’ve been serving to learn different job skills, such as upcycling, refurbishing, accounting and cashiering, among other skills, and give them a space to be “recognized for who they are.” “No one was serving that need,” Rochel said. “It was incredible to see the progress of these kids (through) spending time with other children with special needs, with typically-developing kids and just that the lack of friendship that they
had to begin was being filled so beautifully that I realized this is where I should be.” The Friendship Circle coordinates teenagers who volunteer with children with disabilities for social gatherings, such as bowling, crafts, sports and home visits. Multiple organizations provide medical, educational and therapeutic care for (see ZABS Place on page 10)
INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Scores, 8; Education, 11; Calendar, 16; A&E, 17; Sports, 18; Classifieds, 23 Garland! NOT S Gift Ce URE? •Beautiful Containers rtificat es •Custom Arrangements Availa ble!
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