Inside: Monroe Police make multiple drug arrests • Page 4A
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Friday, Dec. 22, 2017 • Vol. 12 • No. 51
ABOUT US P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261
Commercial plan is too loose
justin@cmgweekly.com unioncountyweekly.com
by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
Nature lovers New club kicks off, paints rocks, 2A
WAXHAW – County commissioners want specifics when it comes to the type of businesses that are going into proposed office space at 1425 Providence Road South. Attorney James Lee has applied to rezone the 1.5 acres from residential to office zoning, fueling a petition signed by 38 people against the project in the neighboring Chatsworth subdivision. The petition says they bought their homes with the impression the land was zoned residential. Homeowners also worry about their property values and traffic along Providence Road.
“Some of the concerns I heard from the neighbors, especially the properties that back completely up to it, are valid concerns, but it is slated to be an area where we would entertain commercial development,” Commissioner Stoney Rushing said Dec. 18 Rushing added it would be hypocritical for him not to approve the request when commissioners have OK’ed many rezonings in that area. Commissioner Lance Simpson acknowledged the property is within a neighborhood district and fits the character of N.C. 16, but he didn’t like the broad scope the applicant was requesting. Lee’s application states the zoning would be limited to office uses, as well as personal improve-
ment services; studio, instructional or service uses; day care center; or animal services (grooming, training supplies and veterinary). Lee agreed to no overnight boarding of animals unless accessory to a vet clinic or hospital. Overnight boarding must be indoors, while animals on outdoor runs must be attended at all times. “I think it just allows too many uses,” Simpson said. “Our other rezoning requests that we have approved have been a little bit more narrowed or focused. This just appears to be a shotgun approach.” Commissioners ended up sending the petition back to the planning board for additional review.
The things children tell Santa
Justin Vick Managing Editor
by Richard A. Quadrini Contributor
Dining scores Arby’s has the meats ... and is neat, 4B
House calls Doctor visits when you have emergency, 5A
Bright ideas
Teachers win grants for classroom projects, 5A
Super 7 Parkwood, Forest Hills top hoops rankings, 1B
Happy birthday Union County
A
fter many years of “being” Santa for hundreds of children, I have come to cherish the words they have written or spoken to Santa. The stories I share reflect the emotions by which the children relate to Santa. More so, they portray the love and joy that the real Santa invokes in them for their friends, family and baby Jesus. One of the greatest joys of our worldly journey is the experience of family. Children especially enhance this joy when we witness or share in the boundless exhilaration by which they often live their lives. For many of us, young and old, that exhilaration and belief allows us to experience the treasure of a special relationship with that magical person who we call Santa Claus. My life has been blessed with having a special relationship with Santa for many decades. Our family was especially fortunate to have Santa in our home every Christmas Eve. When we were toddlers, Santa usually came while we were sleeping. When we were a little older, Santa came to spend time with us before we went to bed (We didn’t sleep very much on those nights). When older, my brothers and I played Santa for many years for the younger cousins. Later as a father, I was fortunate to experience Santa through my children’s eye. About 20 years ago, I started a special journey of being one of Santa’s favorite helpers every Christmas season. Over the past two decades and many dozens of visits as Santa, I have been blessed to know the beauty of Santa residing in the spirit of the baby Jesus. To my questions, “What does Christmas mean to you?” one of two children will exclaim that we get presents; all the rest will answer with various words that it is baby Jesus’ birthday. For my daughter Laura and granddaughter Ella Grace, I will always be
him are reflective on the love that he inspires in children even as they are reciting a list of their wants. Consider the beauty in the following comments … We returned to the daycare for an impromptu second visit. When Santa (again) asked Joey what he wanted for Christmas, he responded incredulously, “you mean you don’t remember?” Fortunately, God gives Santa a quick mind, and he responded, “Yes Joey I remember, I just wanted to see if you had any changes.”
Union County celebrated its 175th anniversary Dec. 19 with birthday cake. The county also created a 20-minute video outlining the influences over time that have shaped its quality of life here. Here are some tasty tidbits I gleaned from watching the video. • The need for quicker access to courts was a big driver in the county’s formation. Trips to courthouses in Mecklenburg and Anson counties took about a day of travel, according to Patricia Poland, a history librarian with Public Library of Union County. • Residents had to petition state legislators not once, but twice, for them to OK the creation of Union County, according to Barbara Moore, chairwoman of the Union County Historic Preservation Commission. Their first attempt was in 1840. • Poland had the best line in the documentary: “A piece of Mecklenburg and a piece of Anson – we like to say the best parts – were taken to form Union County.” • The county was named after the “union of Anson and Mecklenburg,” according to Mark Watson, executive director for human resources.
see SANTA, Page 6A
see VICK, Page 6A
Richard Quadrini has gotten a kick out of the cute and funny things children tell him while he’s dressed as Santa. Photo courtesy of Richard Quadrini
Santa’s favorite helper. It was a very busy week. On Sunday evening, I walked through the front door too tired to hang up my outfit. Instead, I set a number of red, white and black garments over three or four chairs in our dining room. On an early Monday surprise visit, Ella Grace was surprised to see Santa’s outfit scattered around the room. Laura quietly explained with a God-inspired remark, “Oh! I forgot to tell you that Santa picked grandpa to be one of his favorite helpers.” After this occurrence, I began to reflect on the many touching things that I have observed children and parents say to Santa. These poignant words to
Downtown brewery represents a realized dream Let us know Send your New Year resolutions for 2018 to justin@cmgweekly.com
INDEX Crime................................................................................ 4A Classifieds..............................................................5B Calendar....................................................................3B Sports.............................................................................. 1B Puzzles.........................................................................3B
by Lee Noles Contributor
WAXHAW – Neil Gimon has always been an optimistic person. So, when he was laid off for the third time in the corporate world, Gimon didn’t see it as a setback. He viewed it as a chance to chase after his dream. A home brewer for 25 years, Gimon decided to take his knowledge and award-winning craft beers and make it work for him. A little more than six years later, Gimon has done just that with The Dreamchaser's Brewery, located directly from the famous wooden bridge that crosses the railroad tracks in
downtown Waxhaw. “It’s a place where people can sit and talk,” said Gimon, whose brewery has been open now for going on two years. “We have two televisions, and people don’t know they are on because they are talking with each other. And that is the important thing.” Finding the right location was something Gimon said took time. After looking around the Charlotte area, Gimon said he realized western Union County was the perfect place because of its consistent growth over the last seven years. Next was finding a building that could hold see BREWERY, Page 6A
The Dreamchaser’s Brewery has proven to be a great place to get lost in conversation. UCW file photo
Celebrate Chris tmas with us at Calvar y — Come, let us adore Him, Chris t the Lord!
C A LVA RYC H U R C H . C O M
C A LVA R Y C H U R C H | 5 8 01 P I N E V I L L E – M AT T H E W S R OA D, C H A R LO T T E , N C 2 8 2 2 6 | C A L V A R Y C H U R C H . C O M / C H R I S T M A S