Union County Weekly Dec. 7, 2018

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Inside: Not a great gift giver? Check out our holiday shopping guide • Page 1B

Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 • Vol. 13 • No. 49

ABOUT US P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261 justin@cmgweekly.com unioncountyweekly.com

Providing hope can be hereditary

WEEKLY PICKS

The Waxhaw Christmas Parade is a place to get into the holiday spirit with festive displays (top) and sounds from high school marching bands (bottom). Photos courtesy of Town of Waxhaw

Nicole Jordan helps load Christmas presents at the Waxhaw Ray of Hope Community Outreach Christmas Party. Photo courtesy of Waxhaw Ray of Light

Santa plans to visit brunch in Waxhaw and a tree lighting in Marvin on Dec. 8, among other activities. Flip to the calendar on page 4B for details.

Wintry mix Snow, sleet or freezing rain is expected to hit the Charlotte region this weekend, which could prompt cancellations and delays of happenings around town. You may want to verify events with organizers.

Stage play The CATA High School PTSO presents “The Laramie Project” Dec. 7 and 8 in honor of the 20th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death. See this and other events in our calendar.

Theater There aren’t many wide releases this week, which could mean a third consecutive week atop the box office for “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”

Streaming A boy raised by computed-animated wolves heads back to live with human villagers in this live action Netflix film, “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.” Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Benedict Cumberbatch star in this adaptation of “The Jungle Book.”

WHAT'S INSIDE

Nicole Jordan to serve as parade grand marshal just like her grandmother by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

WAXHAW – When Nicole Jordan was a child, the Waxhaw native hung out at work with her grandmother a lot. Jordan went to all kinds of events around town, even playing tic tac toe with the police chief at the time. Jordan had that kind of access because her grandmother, Lola Blackburn, was mayor in the early 1980s. Some years later, Jordan watched her grandmother ride downtown as the grand marshal at the annual Waxhaw Christmas Parade. Things have now come full circle for Jordan as the Waxhaw businesswomen and community volunteer will be the grand marshal at the Waxhaw Christmas Parade on Dec. 9. The parade begins at 3 p.m. Jordan wasn’t selected as grand marshal because of Blackburn, who passed away in 2006. see JORDAN, Page 3A

Good causes

There is a food pantry at Nicole Jordan's Sweet Repeats Resale shop in Waxhaw. Paul Nielsen/UCW photo

3-and-out: Regional football playoff edition

Waxhaw boutique has ethical fashion, 2B

by Andrew Stark

Storm may thwart Christmas parade by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

WAXHAW – It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in downtown Waxhaw. The streets and local businesses are aglow with decorations as the town prepares for its annual Christmas parade on Sunday, Dec. 9. And the weather may even feel like Christmas this weekend, but that may not be a good thing for the annual parade, which is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. The forecast for this weekend calls for a chance of winter precipitation and that may force town officials to postpone the parade to a later date. “We are monitoring the weather closely,” Waxhaw Events Manager Lisa Hoffman said on Dec. 3. “If there is a sleet-snow mix, we could likely cancel. But we won’t make that decision until Friday (Dec. 7).” If the parade goes off as scheduled, it will be larger than the annual July 4th parade. High school bands from Parkwood, Marvin Ridge and Cuthbertson will all march and play in the parade. In addition, hundreds of other participants will march or ride floats through the downtown Waxhaw area. Announcers cover the entire parade route to make sure spectators hear all of the details surrounding the entries that see PARADE, Page 3A

Swimming

Mavs boys, girls reload with titles in mind by Andrew Stark

andrew@cmgweekly.com

andrew@cmgweekly.com

Speedy shopper How to shop SouthPark Mall in 60 minutes, 4B

INDEX Shopping Guide......................................... 1B Crime................................................................................ 6A Classifieds..............................................................5B Calendar....................................................................4B Dining Scores..................................................4B Puzzles.........................................................................4B In the Know.........................................................2B

The Western Regional finals are ripe with area football teams as Porter Ridge, Weddington and Charlotte Catholic are all still alive and just one win from playing for state championships. Charlotte Catholic went undefeated and won it all last year. They were tripped up by Charlotte Christian, the legendarily good private school power who went unbeaten and won their second straight title, but have rolled since. Weddington has been there with many of these same kids, winning in 2016 with current head coach Andy Capone as an assistant. Capone has made a seamless transition

Weddington linebacker Alec Mock makes a tackle during the Warriors’ win against Central Cabarrus in the first round of the playoffs. Mock has 135 tackles on the season. Photo courtesy of Ashleigh Mock

and has the Warriors playing great football. Porter Ridge is still alive in the 4-A bracket, using their unstoppable ground and pound attack to keep advancing. Quarterback Grayson McCall has been

special in this postseason run, and is looking to get them back to the championship for the first time since 2012. Below we’ll take a closer see FOOTBALL, Page 4A

WAXHAW – Over the past six seasons, the Marvin Ridge swimming and diving team has become the gold standard in the NCHSAA’s 3A classification. Part of that has to do with the arrival of coach Melissa King-Pierce, who came to Marvin Ridge seven seasons ago and has since helped lift the already successful boys and girls teams to even new heights. King-Pierce uses a different approach than other coaches, starting at the top with her stars, including senior 100-butterfly and 200-freestyle swimmer and North Carolina commit Ellie VanNote, senior freestyle specialist Charles Rothen-

berger and junior 100-butterfly and 50-freestyle swimmer Boyd Poelke. “I make these guys clean the bus up because if the freshmen see them cleaning the bus they won’t leave any trash,” King-Pierce said. “I lead from the top down instead of bottom up because it just works better.” King-Pierce holds her swimmers accountable, but all involved say it’s the culture that’s led to the success of both programs. Last season, the boys added to their rise of prominence with their second straight 3A title after finishing second in 2016 and third in both 2014 and 2015. The girls have been just as dominant. In 2014, the see SWIMMING, Page 5A

Join us for a joyful Christmas worship celebration for all ages!

Sunday, December 9 9:45 am & 6:00 pm Featuring the Calvary Choir & Orchestra and Student & Children’s Worship Choirs FREE — Bring family & friends! 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 SCW_CalvaryChurch_FrontPageStrip_Dec7.indd 1

C A LVA RYC H U R C H . C O M 11/28/2018 10:31:57 AM


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Union County Weekly Dec. 7, 2018 by Charlotte Media Group - Issuu