Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly Feb. 21, 2020

Inside: Matthews board to convene in Blowing Rock • Page 3A

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Commissioners examine term limits, engagement

ABOUT US

Susan Rodriguez-McDowell Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners

P.O. BOX 1104Community Endorsements Jennifer De La Jara CMS School Board, At-Large Hugh McColl Former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America Matthews, NC 28106 George Dunlap Chairman of the Mecklenburg County Commission Dan McCready Former Candidate for U.S. House

by Justin Vick (704) Shirley Fulton 849-2261 Superior Court Judge (Ret.) Susan Rodriguez-McDowell Mecklenburg County Commissioner Renee Garner Matthews Mayor Pro-Tem

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MINT HILL – Mayor Brad Simmons and town Early Voting Begins February re13th commissioners UNDER For Locations and Times: 704-336-2133 or www.meckboe.org NEW OWNERSHIP turned from a weekVote for Capable and Caring Leadership in County Government! end retreat in HickMEMBERSHIP ory with ideas of COMES WITH A COACH keeping citizens en- Simmons CONVENIENT gaged, ranging from LOCATION launching a 10-year plan to allowPA I D F O R B Y L E I G H A LT M A N F O R C O U N T Y C O M M I S S I O N

Renee Garner Matthews Board of Commissioners

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Paid for by the Committee to Elect Lynna Moen

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The County Commission oversees a $1.9 billion budget for public health, mental health, education, welfare, and the environment. YOUR VOTE MATTERS.

Kevin Tully Mecklenburg Public Defender

ing developers to present proposals more frequently.

Leaders plan on letting citizens decide on the November ballot whether to extend term limits for board members from two years to four years, as well as stagger terms so the community can elect two commissioners per election.

“This particular year, we had almost a full turnover of the board of commissioners, so you have to get

a little concerned about continuity,” Simmons said during the Feb. 13 meeting.

Voters elected a new mayor in Simmons and two new commissioners in Patrick Holton and Tony Long to the five-member board in 2019. However, there were enough candidates for a complete overhaul if voters desired.

The board talked a lot during the retreat about launching a 10-year

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plan.

“We have started pulling some information together to get ready to send out RFPs,” Simmons said, adding they'll narrow the field down to two or three companies to give presentations for the board before deciding on who to work with.

The board has traditionally allowed developers an opportunity to see ENGAGEMENT, Page 2A

ASC still asking for public funds

1636 SARDIS RD N #160 CHARLOTTE, NC 28270

by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Harvey Boyd, a longtime resident of Crestdale, stands outside his family home. Photo courtesy of Kristen Anderson

Signing Day Prep stars sign with colleges, 5A

Boyd's county seal design combined past, future

by Kristen Anderson Contributor

Fine Print Budd updates on opioid crisis, 5A

Bust a move Charlotte Steppers find a groove, 1B

MATTHEWS – Harvey Boyd, a graphic artist and longtime resident of Matthews, designed the county seal for Mecklenburg County.

While working in the ad department of the Charlotte Observer in 1964, Boyd read that the Chamber of Commerce was soliciting ideas for an official county seal. Though only 20 years old, he decided to try his hand at a design.

As he thought about how to artistically represent the past, present and future of Mecklenburg County, Boyd said he was inspired

by one of his heroes, Crispus Attucks, the first man killed in the Boston Massacre. Attucks, who was of African and Native American descent, stood up for the ideals of freedom.

As an African American man in the South during the 1960s, Boyd experienced first-hand the stark contrast between the notion of freedom and the reality of enforced racial segregation.

Pondering on the example of Attucks, Boyd thought, “In spite of what I’m living, there were other people who understood the concept of freedom.” see SEAL, Page 5A

Harvey Boyd designed Mecklenburg County's seal in 1964. Photo courtesy of Paul Anderson

Community leaders align to make Matthews housing more affordable

by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

Senior expo Register for March 20 event, 3B

INDEX Crime................................................................................ 4A Classifieds..............................................................5B Dining Scores................................................. 6B Calendar....................................................................4B Thrive Over 55............................................... 1B Opinion......................................................................... 3A Loud&Live............................................................ 6B Puzzles........................................................................ 6B

Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity has been successful in mobilizing volunteers to help fund and build new homes, but now the organization is working with other community leaders to put a bigger dent in the affordable housing problem. MMHW file photo

MATTHEWS – As CEO of the Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity, Natisha Rivera-Patrick devotes her time to connecting people with decent and affordable housing.

But she recognizes her organization is one piece of the solution when it comes to making Matthews a more affordable place to live.

That's why she formed the Matthews

Affordable Housing Alliance, a group of community partners that will identify and recommend strategies to expand affordable housing opportunities in town.

Rivera-Patrick was part of a Matthews Planning Board committee that studied affordable housing and presented findings and strategies to town commissioners in January 2019. see HOUSING, Page 4A

CHARLOTTE – Three months after voters shot down a proposal to support the arts through a quarter-cent sales tax increase, the Arts & Science Council continues lobbying Charlotte and Mecklenburg County leaders for public funding.

ASC President Jeep Bryant met with county commissioners Feb. 11 to formally ask the board for $5 million for the next fiscal year. He told them ASC is also seeking $7 million from Charlotte City Council, though those talks are preliminary.

The ASC successfully convinced commissioners last year to put a bond referendum on the November ballot that could potentially generate $50 million to be split among arts, county parks and education. The proposal failed at the polls, as 57.4% of the 121,314 people voted against the bond referendum.

However, the county has been seeking feedback from the community as it develops next year's budget.

“We hear the voices of those that have come to this commission to say that cultural investments really are a part of the fabric of education, of community development, of upward mobility,” Bryant told commissioners. “We hear the need to invest in a more dynamic, more equitable ecosystem for arts, science and history to flourish and we hear the need to serve all residents regardless of where they live, where they learn or where they come from.”

The county already provides a little more than $2 million to the ASC through two initiatives: • Culture Blocks: Cultural programming that occurs at libraries, parks and other community spaces.

• Studio 345: A free youth development program that uses digital see ARTS, Page 3A

Help build the budget Mecklenburg County will continue holding community budget workshops this month, in which residents can tell leaders their preferred funding priorities.

Workshops will be held at the following times: • Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Albemarle Road Recreation Center, 5027 Idlewild Road N., Mint Hill.

• Feb. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Cordelia Park, 2100 N. Davidson St., Charlotte.

• Feb. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m, at The Sportsplex at Matthews, 2425 Sports Pkwy., Matthews.

County Manager Dena Diorio is expected to present her recommended budget to county commissioner in May.

20,000 sq ft of furniture, decor and gifts!

Food, live music and shopping!

Page 2A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21. 2020

IN THE KNOW PHOTO OF THE WEEK STAY CONNECTED • Instagram: @mmhweekly • Twitter: @mmhweekly • Like us on Facebook • Web: matthewsminthill weekly.com • E-edition: issuu.com/car olinaweeklynewspapers

CONTACT US PRESIDENT Jonathan McElvy

Barry Steiger, general manager of Mario's Italian Restaurant, will be the butt of jokes (for a good cause) during Turning Point's 24th annual roast on March 13.

Steiger is involved in several organizations, including the Matthews Chamber of Commerce, Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity and Matthews Rotary Club. The fundraiser includes dinner and drinks. Buy tickets at https://turningpointnc.org/events/.

MOST POPULAR STORIES • 22 Influential African American leaders in the region • Renfrow Farms beehives sustain tornado damage • Greek celebration highlights School Choice Week • Boyd’s county seal design combines past, future • Matthews repairs ties to CMS with charter school

• “ICYMI: Independence Patriot Caroline Backus was crowned NC state champ in the indoor track 55m wheelchair division for the 2nd year in a row. #Senior #indytrack” – Tracey Backus (@tback71) • “Congratulations to Anu Raghavan who won a prestigious National Merit Scholarship! This is a very competitive award, and we are so happy for him! #butlerproud #hardworkpaysoff” – Butler Bulldogs (@butlerbulldawgs) • “Today is about heart and my heart is full. Thank you Lisa Dudzik for your beautiful words and to Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly for sharing our story. http://dottierosefoundation. org/camps” – Dr. Sharon Jones (@dottieroseLLC)

• Feb. 28: Arts & Entertainment • March 6: Summer Camps #2 • March 13: Home Improvement

BUSINESS MANAGER Rebecca Jensen rjensen@cmgweekly.com MANAGING EDITOR Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com NEWS EDITOR Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

UPCOMING EDITIONS

PUBLISHER Adrian Garson

SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com CONTENT PRODUCER Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com ART DIRECTOR Kylie Sark art@cmgweekly.com ADVERTISING Charlotte Conway Kate Kutzleb Julie Foras adsales@cmgweekly.com PRESS RELEASES justin@cmgweekly.com

Future connection delays Brace Family YMCA vote

by Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com

MATTHEWS – Town commissioners have yet to make a decision on the Brace YMCA fields.

Because the Weddington Road interchange project will take away seven acres of field space from the YMCA, leaders from the YMCA approached the town in JanuUrban ary with a proposal to relocate two youth playing fields. At the time, town staff recommended the addition of a trail to connect the fields to the neighborhood on Fair Forest Drive.

Residents expressed concerns about the changes. They were worried about noise and privacy.

The Matthews planning board was not in favor of this plan, recommending its denial. At the commissioners’ meeting Feb. 10, town staff came to the commissioners with a revised plan. In the revised plan, a windscreen would be added to the fences to increase privacy, a sidewalk from the parking lot to the fields would be added, lighting at the YMCA would be reduced and cut off by 9 p.m. and there would be no amplified sound.

At the Feb. 10 meeting, Planning Director Jay Camp said town staff’s previous suggestion for a trail along the swim buffer to the back of the property was considered too intrusive to the surrounding neighborhood by the planning board. A less intrusive option, Camp said, is to instead route it outside of the fencing, along the property line and the stormwater pond, and eventually end along the ramps at the Weddington Road interchange. Camp said town staff recommended the trail be an easement instead.

Commissioner John Urban clarified that the board was now discussing an easement, which had only been proposed after the planning board’s deliberation.

Mayor John Higdon said though the easement was said to be less intrusive, he had still received negative feedback from residents and did not feel comfortable voting on the plan with the easement.

Urban wanted to remind the board and neighbors in attendance that they were making a decision that could benefit Matthews in the future.

“A physical path is injurious to the adjacent neighborhood, but the fact is… that in the future as the neighborhood changes, as younger families move in, the needs and wants of my grandchildren are going to be a lot different than my needs or wants today,” Urban said. “I just know over the past 20 years in the Town of Matthews, the prudence of at least saving some easement some place really accommodates the town down the road. Had we not done that, we would lose opportunities.”

ENGAGEMENT (continued from page 1A)

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share proposals at quarterly workshops, but leaders want to make these monthly. The workshops allow leaders to give feedback on projects prior to public hearings.

“It gives you more opportunities to have input on what's going on,” Simmons said.

The board is also looking at streaming meetings. Simmons said it will probably take

Urban said he wanted the town to be able to provide for future generations. He also said the addition of an easement gives the opportunity for more connectivity if that is what future residents are looking for.

“I think it would appease the homeowners today that there’s not going to be anybody tracing through, but the homeowners two decades from now may be looking for that linkage, and there’s that opportunity,” Urban said. “So, if it means reaching back out to the neighbors and just talking about this to get a little more comfort level, I’m willing to do that.”

Matthews resident David Raichle, who lives on Fair Forest Drive, approached the board and thanked Urban and mayor pro tem Renee Garner for discussing the matter with him outside the meeting. Raichle previously spoke out at the meeting in January because he was concerned about public safety.

At the most recent meeting, Raichle said that while an easement could be a good compromise, he was concerned about the impact it would have on the trees in the area, which he said would defeat the planning purpose of the buffer.

Urban said the town has been accommodating to the surrounding trees in the past.

“I do know that we’ve had easements, we’ve put trails in, we’ve been sensitive to the trees, we’ve been selective in our pruning and have moved around it and made room for more pleasant environments,” Urban said.

Urban originally proposed to defer the decision to March 9, but Brace YMCA Executive Director Ben Pinegar expressed a sense of urgency to the board, asking them to make their decision sooner.

Pinegar said he is “more than willing” to discuss the easement with neighbors, but urged the board to expedite the process so the organization could begin planning.

“We are losing fields,” Pinegar said. “We have soccer season starting very soon. I recognize the request to have pedestrian access and I’m more than willing to have the conversation, but if we continue to defer the vote, we are jeopardizing our ability to recreate the fields that we’re losing.”

Town attorney Charles Buckley told the board an easement could be added at any time and was not essential to the decision-making process, so they could make their decision that night if they wanted to.

However, Buckley said the only problem is that if the board does not make the easement part of the conditions, they would have to pay for it at market value in the future.

Higdon said he would feel more comfortable discussing the plan with neighbors first, but was willing to make the decision in two weeks rather than a month.

“My concern is that it was done at the 11th hour and I don’t think there was good vetting with the neighbors,” Higdon said.

The board voted unanimously to defer the vote and discuss it again in two weeks. at least two months to iron out some of the details, such as getting the right equipment and deciding how and where to stream the meetings.

“It's a lot easier for you to stream the meeting with your cell phone sitting right there than it is for us to start that process,” Simmons said, noting there are legalities the town has to consider.

The board will also launch a steering committee of citizens that want to be involved.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21. 2020 • Page 3A

Dates to Remember American Legion Founded March 15th-17th, 1919

Operation Iraqi Freedom March 19th, 2003

Congressional Medal of Honor Day March 25th

Members of the American Expeditionary Force convene in Paris for the first American Legion caucus. The American Legion was chartered by Congress as a patriotic veterans organization.

Focusing on service to veterans, service members and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States.

On this day in 2003, the United States, along with coalition forces primarily from the United Kingdom, initiates war on Iraq.

The first Medals of Honor were awarded on March 25, 1863.

Over the years, the Legion has influenced considerable social change in America, won hundreds of benefits for veterans and produced many important programs for children and youth.

Hostilities began about 90 minutes after the U.S.imposed deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq or face war passed. Coalition forces were able to topple his regime and capture Iraq’s major cities in just three weeks, sustaining few casualties. Despite the defeat of conventional military forces in Iraq, an insurgency had continued an intense guerrilla war in the nation in the years since military victory was announced, resulting in thousands of coalition military, insurgent, and civilian deaths.

Congress passed a resolution in 1990 establishing National Medal of Honor Day. March 25th became the official nationwide holiday honoring the medal and its’ recipients.

The Medal of Honor is awarded only to military members; it is awarded by Congress and is also known as the Congressional Medal of Honor.

National Medal of Honor Day is a time to remember the sacrifices of men and women in uniform who have earned this highest of military honors.

Upcoming Events Spaghetti Dinner Sponsored by the American Legion Post 235, Matthews, NC

March 21st, 2020 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM A spaghetti dinner sponsored by the American Legion will be held to honor the 101st birthday of the American Legion. Great food and good company.

Tickets are sold in advance only. To purchase tickets, please send an email to mark.e.tofano@gmail.com specifying the number of tickets that you would like to purchase. An American Legion representative will contact you to supply the tickets and to provide payment information.

Cost: $9.00 per person Location: Masonic lodge, 184 S Trade St, Matthews, NC On duty police, fire, and EMS personnel will dine for free. Thank you for your service to all of us.

OPINION

Sign me up...out-of-town board retreats sound pretty relaxing, fun Justin Vick Managing Editor

M

ATTHEWS – Mark Tofano told elected leaders Feb. 10 at Matthews Town Hall why they should not hold their planning conference out of town.

Tofano compared the conference to a poll tax, in that constituents would have to travel 113 miles to Blowing Rock to participate in their local government. He contends that anyone strapped for cash, time or transportation would not be able to attend, including single mothers, people with disabilities and low-income residents.

“Putting aside the financial irresponsibility of your decision, the cost to attend and the inability to attend makes a farce of the term 'open meeting,'” Tofano told commissioners during public comment. “There is no valid reason for conducting the business of the people away from the people … none.

Any reasons that you may give can easily be shown as being self-serving.”

Commissioners will start their retreat Feb. 27 and 28 at Matthews Town Hall, discussing things like police, fire and EMS response times, as well as NCDOT road projects and sidewalk gaps.

The retreat continues Feb. 28 through March 1 at The Chetola Lodge in Blowing Rock, where they're scheduled to discuss a potential 2020 bond referendum for road construction and repair, affordable housing and the LYNX Silver Line project.

Now that I think about it, talking about potholes while getting an exfoliating back massage sounds refreshing. Or talking about affordable housing while grazing from an Artisan Cheese Board sounds splendid.

I agree with Tofano. Going out of town to have long conversations with neighbors about your town is a waste of time and money. A birdie close to town hall tells me that the trip will cost $4,600, excluding mileage reimbursement.

Dave Bland and Mark Tofano fill out election paperwork in July 2019. Bland won a seat on the Matthews Board of Commissioners, but Tofano did not. That's not stopped him from being involved and calling out the board on occasion. MMHW file photo

But the cost doesn't bother me as much as the lack of access.

Granted, I realize that commissioners likely won't vote on anything official.

These types of meetings are designed to talk through major issues and build consensus among commissioners. The town manager uses the feedback to develop strategies and solutions over the course of the coming year or term.

Proponents of such retreats say going out of town cuts down on distractions and provides a bonding experience for a board with new members. But can't y'all just turn off your cell phones or go to Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park in Mint Hill?

I believe the board is missing an opportunity to engage with the public. It runs counter to a lot of the efforts I've seen from this board over the past year, such as answering questions on Facebook Live or meeting with constituents over coffee.

Holding these types of meetings locally could lead to valuable feedback from constituents.

I'd be remiss if I didn't wave my fat finger at Mint Hill, too. Mint Hill tends to be

more fiscally conservative than Matthews, but commissioners held their retreat Feb. 7 to 9 about 70 miles away from town hall at the Crowne Plaza Hickory to discuss shortterm and long-term planning. The mayor and two of the four commissioners are new to the board.

Mayor Brad Simmons did report several ideas from the retreat that give me the impression that they'll be more transparent to the public, such as streaming meetings and launching a citizen steering committee.

County commissioners held their annual retreat last month at Central Piedmont Community College's Harris Campus, while the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education held its retreat Feb. 4 at Cordelia Park in Charlotte. Props to them.

I'm very tempted to request the mayor and commissioners allow me to take photos of their eyebrows, cuticles and feet before and after the retreat to ensure they did some work at this thing. Or better yet, maybe I can recruit some people to attend the first part of the retreat at town hall wearing white Turkish spa towels over our clothes and around our heads.

ARTS (continued from page 1A)

photography and arts to help keep kids in school.

Bryant broke down the $5 million request for next year by program: $1.5 million for Culture Blocks (a $550,000 increase), $500,000 for Studio 345 (a $150,000 increase), $1 million for operating support grants, $750,000 for Spirit Square operations, $450,000 for individual artist grants, $400,000 for school funding opportunities and $400,000 for Cultural Vision grants.

Commissioner Susan Harden, a proponent of the quarter-cent sales tax, described the ASC's request as transformational.

“This is a great start toward making a great impact especially in those areas that haven't been funded before,” Harden said.

Commissioners Pat Cotham, Vilma Leake and Mark Jerrell sought more information from ASC about how the county's share of the funding compares to other sources of revenue, such as the city and private donors.

Leake was the most critical of the proposal, saying her constituents in west Charlotte have been ignored when it comes to arts programming, especially high-level programs like opera.

Bryant was prepared for Leake's critique, noting the ASC's Culture Blocks program held 28 programs in her voter district, 10 of which targeted senior citizens.

Aside from a budget, Leake told Bryant she wanted a list of ASC's employees broken down by gender and race. She went as far as to ask Bryant what his salary is ($220,000) and how much he makes in terms of bonuses (0 since he's in his first year).

“I have a real concern when you ask for that kind of money to be going to programs that's not going to impact the lives of the greater number of children that really need it when poverty is really rampant in Mecklenburg County,” Leake said. “How then can the Arts and Sciences Council help those people who are suffering because they don't have the funds? They don't get the proper education, the proper housing and they certainly don't get the proper food and living conditions as they ought to be.”

Bryant told county commissioners that ASC has lowered costs by eliminating four positions, which brings its staff down to 31 people, as well as trimming back on consulting fees, travel and other line items.

Moving forward, Bryant said the budget will be built based on specific programs they have been charged to deliver.

Page 4A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21. 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

CRIME SCENE

Providence Day School will host All-Star Game

The Mint Hill Police Department reported these incidents Jan. 28-Feb. 9: Alcohol • 7400 block of Lebanon Road: Driving while impaired. Feb. 6 • 8200 block of Blair Road: Driving while impaired. Jan. 30 • 9100 block of Lawyers Road: Driving while impaired. Feb. 3 Assaults/Threats • 4300 block of Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road: Communicating threats. Feb. 2 • 4900 block of Stoney Trace Drive: Simple assault. Feb. 5 • 5800 block of Lebanon Road: Communicating threats. Jan. 31 • 6500 block of Thamesmead Lane: Simple assault. Feb. 8 • 7000 block of Brighton park Drive: Assault on a female.

Jan. 28 • 7000 block of Olde Sycamore Drive: Communicating threats. Jan. 30 • 7300 block of Town View Drive: Simple assault, property damage & hit & run. Jan. 29 • 8800 block of Fairview Road: Simple assault. Feb. 6 Break-Ins • 4600 block of Stoney Trace Drive: Burglary & property damage. Feb. 4 Drugs • 7000 block of Brighton Park Drive: Possession of methamphetamine, heroin & drug paraphernalia; maintaining a vehicle/dwelling; & larceny.

Feb. 3 • 7700 block of Olde Sycamore Drive: Possession of cocaine & drug paraphernalia, as well as maintaining vehicle for storage of controlled substance. Feb. 8 • 7900 block of Olde Sycamore Drive: Possession of cocaine & narcotic paraphernalia, as well as maintaining a vehicle/dwelling. Feb. 8 • 9000 block of Lawyers Road: Possession of schedule II & IV. Jan. 28 • 14000 block of Cabarrus Road: Possession of drug paraphernalia & fictitious display of registration plate. Jan. 30 Fraud/Forgery • 5500 block of Gristmill Lane: Identity theft. Jan. 30

CHARLOTTE – Providence Day will host some of the state's top basketball players at the 2020 N.C. Private School All-Star Game on Feb. 29.

Chris Berger, of Charlotte Latin, will coach a boys team that includes Myles Hunter, of Carmel Christian; Peter Lash, of Charlotte Christian; and Randy Johnson, of Charlotte Latin.

The girls game will include Emma Coles, of Charlotte Christian; Kennedy Grier, of Charlotte Country Day; Viktoria McCue, of Covenant Day; and Nina-Simone Clark, Grace Godwin, Morgan Kelson, Andi Levitz, MiLeia Owens and Kailey Smith, of Providence Day. The girls game starts at 1 p.m. followed by the boys game at 2:30 pm.

Admission costs $7 for adults and $5 for students. Children under age 8 will be admitted for free.

Mondo track event produces elite times WINSTON-SALEM – The best of the best track and field stars from seven states converged at the JDL FastTrack on Feb. 1 and 2 in Winston-Salem for the Mondo Elite High School Invitational.

In the invitational events, which are run with the region’s best of the best, the results included: • Providence Day’s Olufemi Cole ran 7.06 seconds to place 11th in the 60 meter.

• Providence Day’s Jason Krell placed 11th in the mile (4:29).

HOUSING (continued from page 1A)

“Too often, we look for local municipalities to come up with the solutions,” Rivera-Patrick said. “I think when we do that, they are essentially paralyzed. That's not their everyday thing.

That's not what they do.

“I thought it made sense to put together a group that could come up with those solutions to then work with the towns and municipalities to help implement, scale and replicate because otherwise, we weren't going

Providence Day has five girls playing in the N.C. Private School All-Star Game, including Grace Godwin (15) and Morgan Kelson (13). Andrew Stark/MMHW photo • Butler’s Armond Hopkins placed fifth in the triple jump (43-05.50).

• Providence Day’s Falon Spearman ran 8,71 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles, placing fifth in the event.

• Providence’s Ella Foster placed fifth in the 300 (41.54).

• Providence Day was third (4:06.11) in the 4x400.

• Providence Day took care of business in the 55-meter hurdles as Falon Spearman (8.10 seconds, second) and Eliza Cardwell (8.40, fourth) finished top five.

• Butler freshman basketball player Cheyla Scott jumped 5-08.00 to win the high jump.

to get any traction. Inaction just wasn't an option because we know this is an ever-growing need.”

The alliance has been meeting for about eight months. Some of the goals outlined by the alliance include dispelling misconceptions about affordable housing; identifying and engaging partners that will build, rehab and preserve housing stock; and creating solutions that include homeownership, repair and rentals.

The alliance includes representatives from active community groups, such as

Structures damaged from tornado MATTHEWS – The total estimated cost of structural damage from the Feb. 6 tornado was $759,020, according to the preliminary assessment by Mecklenburg County.

The number doesn't include potential damage to Novant Hospital, which needed further assessment, town officials said.

The town recorded damage to 51 structures, including 12 commercial structures and 39 single-family homes.

Major damage occurred at 13 homes and two commercial structures.

Teishana Brooks and Ben Pinegar of Brace Family YMCA, Sue Sproat of COS Kids, the Rev. Jennifer Ginn of Cross and Crown Lutheran, Sandra Conway of Matthews HELP Center and the Rev. Larry Whitley of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.

Marilyn Sczech, who serves on the alliance on behalf of Matthews United Methodist Church, said she was aware of how big an issue affordable housing was nationally, but the study presented to commissioners last year showed her how the problem hit home.

“One of the things we

want to do that is particularly important for the Matthews area is to help people realize that workforce housing is an issue,” Sczech said.

“Policemen, teachers and nurses have difficulty finding affordable housing in the Matthews area.”

Other members of the alliance include Natasha Edwards, Beverly Elwell, Linda Icard, Kema Kovach, Kerry Lamson, Cherie Little, Kristy Miller and Glenn Wynn.

On the web: www.mat thewsaffordablehousingalli ance.org

• 6300 block of Hove Road: Obtain property by false pretenses. Feb. 2 • 6600 block of Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road: Possession of fraudulent form of identification. Feb. 1 • 8000 block of Blair Road: Obtain property by false pretenses & counterfeiting/forgery. Feb. 6 • 8000 block of Fairview Road: Counterfeiting/forgery. Feb. 6 • 8200 block of Dennis Road: Credit card/ATM fraud. Jan. 28 Property Damage • 4800 block of Stoney Trace Drive: Destruction/damage/ vandalism of property. Jan. 28 • 5600 block of Whitehawk Hill Lane: Destruction/damage/vandalism of property.

Feb. 8 • 6300 block of Wilson Grove Road: Destruction/damage/ vandalism of property. Jan. 29 • 10600 block of Blair Road: Damage of property. Jan. 31 Thefts • 4700 block of Stoney Trace Drive: Larceny. Feb. 9 • 5900 block of Beaver Dam Lane: Larceny. Jan. 31 • 6200 block of Wilson Grove Road: Larceny. Feb. 3 • 8000 block of Blair Road: Larceny. Jan. 28 • 9500 block of Stoney Glen Drive: Larceny. Feb. 1 • 13300 block of Idlewild Road: Shoplifting. Jan. 28 Weapon • 4600 block of Stoney Trace Drive: Assault by pointing a gun, firearm by felon, alter serial number from firearm & carrying concealed weapon.

Feb. 5 • 7900 block of Fairview Road: Carrying a concealed weapon. Feb. 4 Other • 7000 block of Olde Sycamore Drive: Warrant for arrest for offenses. Jan. 29 • 7600 block of Matthews-Mint Hill Road: Order for arrest. Feb. 9 • 9200 block of Lawyers Road: Violation of domestic violence protective order. Feb. 8 • 14500 block of Idlewild Road: Warrant for arrest. Jan. 29

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21. 2020 • Page 5A

Signing Day 2020 The first official National Signing Day of 2020 took place around the region on Feb. 5. Social media was abuzz all day as area student-athletes made their college selections known by officially signing their National Letter of Intent.

Here’s a rundown of where our students are headed: Editor’s note: The (**) next to people’s names indicate they have received preferred walk-on status. Here, players aren’t given scholarships up front, but they are on the team and could earn them at a later time.

• Butler: Anthony Carter, N.C. State (football); Tre Richburg, East Tennessee State (football); Jamal Worthy, Western Kentucky (football); Jacalyn Morrison, Notre Dame College (football); Jaurice Alexander**, East Carolina (football). Donovan Law, Life University (rugby); and Darius

Law, Life University (rugby) • Carolina Bearcats: Wanyae Freeman, UNC Greensboro (football) • Charlotte Catholic: Dylan Chromy, Kutztown University (Pa.) baseball; Moira Darling,Sewanee, (field hockey); Mattie McFee, Savannah College of Art and Design (swimming); Malik McGowan, North Carolina (football); Will Sommer, University of Montevallo, (lacrosse); Mitchell Tanis, Christopher Newport (golf ); Luke Taylor, Western Carolina (baseball); Cormac Terry, Catholic University of America (baseball); and Carter Woody, Valparaiso University (football) • Charlotte Latin: Emma Gatrell, Washington & Lee (field hockey); Evelyn Peters, MIT (swimming); Carter Stockwell, Middlebury College (football); and AJ Tobler**, Campbell University (football)

• Country Day: Reed Bolin, Johns Hopkins (baseball); Clarkson Graham, Wake Forest (track and field); Cameron Grainger, Washington & Lee (soccer); William Harris, Haverford College (cross country/track and field); Kathryn Leighty, Washington University (Mo.) (track and field); Burke Logan, Skidmore College (lacrosse); Sarah Powers, Sewanee (lacrosse); Katie So, Yale (field hockey); Sophie Spada, Alabama (cross country/track and field); Phelps Thomas, Sewanee (lacrosse); and Bennett Turner, Boston College (tennis) • Covenant Day: David Billiard, Berry College (football) • Providence Day: Cody Cater**, Wake Forest (football); Olin Baker, Bowdoin College (baseball); Louisa Bynum, Washington and Lee (soccer); Dylan Fox-Arnold, Carleton College (soccer); Morgan Kelson, Claflin University (basketball); Colin Ravin, Denison (baseball); and Camryn Taylor, Williams College (track and field)

The Fine Print

Providence Day celebrated seven student-athletes who signed their National Letter of Intent Feb. 7, on the first official signing day of 2020. The Chargers were one of several area schools that took part in the semi-annual event. Photo courtesy of Ed Prisco

SEAL (continued from page 1A)

Reader asks for status update on state dealing with opioid crisis Dear Attorney, I have several relatives and friends whose lives have been ruined by the opioid crisis. One close family member overdosed and died from his addiction. Where is the state of North Carolina in addressing this in the judicial system? What is the state of North Carolina doing about the problem?

- Concerned for Carolina Dear Concerned, I am so sorry to hear the epidemic has had such a traumatic impact on you and your family.

The opioid epidemic has ravaged families across North Carolina. Opioids are extremely addictive painkillers that come in many forms. They include Oxycontin, hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, and methadone, plus illegal drugs such as heroin. Like all drugs, opioids are known to cause mild side effects. But they are more notorious for the serious and sometimes deadly effects of: addiction, withdrawal, breathing problems, heart problems, overdose, and even death.

In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency over the opioid crisis. Over 47,000 Americans died from legal and illegal opioid overdoses in 2017, according to the CDC; 130 Americans die every day from opioid overdoses.

State public health services have been overwhelmed in the process of trying to address the opioid crisis. In fact, this is a core issue for many of the lawsuits that have been filed against drug companies responsible for manufacturing opioids. Government plaintiffs have argued that their resources have been pushed to the breaking point, and they are left unable to treat victims and combat addiction.

In 2018, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein filed a lawsuit against one of those drug companies, Purdue Pharma. Among other things, the lawsuit alleged that Purdue engaged in deceptive and misleading marketing of opioids that downplayed the seriousness of the side effects. The pharmaceutical company is also accused of falsely stating that there are no dosage limits to their opioids, despite concerns raised by doctors. Finally, the company is said to have targeted vulnerable populations, such as veterans and senior citizens, in their aggressive push for corporate profits.

In September of 2019, the State also brought suit against the family that owns Purdue, the Sacklers. The lawsuit argues that the family directed Purdue's deceptive marketing efforts while profiting to the tune of billions of dollars. For their part, the Sackler family has denied wrongdoing.

About Laura H. Budd Laura H. Budd, Esq. is a managing partner experienced in contracts, business law and litigation at Weaver | Budd, Attorneys at Law. To schedule a consultation with her, please call (704) 841-0760.

States that have sued the company are demanding compensation for programs to combat the crisis, such as addiction and overdose treatment, drug courts, and rehabilitation programs. Purdue is currently in bankruptcy court and is attempting a settlement to resolve thousands of pending lawsuits. That deal would include remaking the company as a “public benefit trust” with profits from it pharmaceutical sales going to treat victims.

But North Carolina, and several other states, have rejected the proposed settlement. These states believe the settlement would not provide enough money and would not adequately hold the Sackler family responsible. For now, the lawsuits continue, and they could drag out for years.

If you have questions about the lawsuit and what the state is demanding, contact the North Carolina Attorney General's Office. Be sure to get your family members and friends the professional treatment they need. Hopefully a resolution – through trial or through settlement – will help save lives and prevent even more from falling victim to this deadly crisis.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is general in nature and not to be taken as legal advice, nor to establish an attorney-client relationship between the reader and Laura H. Budd or Weaver | Budd, Attorneys at Law. Submit your questions for The Fine Print to: inquiries@weaverbuddlaw.com

He wanted his design to be “a reminder of what we are supposed to be.”

After the Civil War in 1870, 130 acres was set-aside near the center of what is now Matthews as a place for freedmen to live. Crestdale is the oldest African American community in Mecklenburg County.

It was in this neighborhood where Harvey Boyd grew up. He lives in the house his parents built when he was a baby in 1944. It was a close-knit community of approximately 500 residents.

“Everyone knew everybody,” Boyd said.

Although Jim Crow laws were in effect, Boyd fondly remembers his childhood.

For example, to compensate for not being allowed to swim in the community pool, he and a friend hatched a plan to build a pool in Harvey’s backyard.

They spent many hours digging the hole, adding cement and then filling it with water. The experiment was a failure. Instead of a pool, they built a giant mud hole.

“All this time, my mom and dad knew that it wouldn’t work, but they didn’t stop us,” Boyd said. “I was lucky to have those kind of parents.”

Boyd developed a desire to study art. He practiced drawing people’s eyes while sitting in church. He thought, “Wow, I can do this!” Since no one else he knew could draw like that, he recognized this talent to be a gift from God. “If He gave me this talent, I should be able to use it somehow,” he said.

So while his family and friends discouraged him and told him that studying art was a “white man’s field,” Harvey resolved to improve his skills. His high school did not have any art classes, so he transferred to West Charlotte High School, hitchhiking daily to get there.

After high school, he enrolled in the graphic arts program at Central Piedmont Community College. Although he was one of only a handful of African Americans attending CPCC, he felt welcome because his classmates judged him by his skills and not by his skin color.

His artistic abilities landed him a job designing ads for the Charlotte Observer. Working in the city, away from his ac-

cepting neighbors and classmates, Boyd said he became more aware of racial inequalities. Because he wasn’t allowed to enter certain establishments in town, he was not invited to attend social gatherings with his colleagues after work.

It was under this setting that Boyd began crafting his design for the Chamber of Commerce’s competition to create a seal that honored and represented Mecklenburg County.

Along the top, he depicted an eagle clutching a banner inscribed with the date of May 20, 1775 – the date the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was signed. He drew an inkwell, a quill and a piece of parchment to also represent this document that declared freedom from British rule a year before the actual Declaration of Independence.

Next to it, Boyd sketched a hornet’s nest. During the Revolutionary War, the British General Charles Cornwallis declared all of Mecklenburg a “hornet’s nest of rebellion.”

Underneath those symbols of Mecklenburg’s past, Boyd drew a farm, illustrating the current landscape for much of the county, followed by a scene of tall skyscrapers, representing its future.

At the time, the tallest building in Charlotte was only 13 stories high. As the son of a railroad worker, Boyd got free passage on weekends to ride the train up to Virginia and back. He marveled at the tall skyscrapers on those journeys and envisioned they would be built here someday.

This entry was chosen as the winning design. The Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners officially adopted it, displaying it on the side of the county courthouse and at the top of official county documents.

Boyd went on to study at Howard University and had a successful career as a graphic artist in locations around the world. In 1988, he returned to his childhood home in Crestdale to take care of his aging parents.

“I’m glad I did that,” he said.

Having lost his eyesight, Boyd can no longer draw. However, he still enjoys the companionship of his neighbors and friends from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mount Moriah Baptist Church faith communities.

His advice for the younger generation?

“Pursue what you really enjoy,” he said, “but at the same time, pray that you’ll be guided.”

Page 6A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21. 2020

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Hugh McColl Former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America

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THRIVE OVER 55 Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21, 2020 • Page 1B

Senior discounts are a perk of aging As people reach or near their retirement years, getting the most out of every dollar becomes more critical than ever. If they aren’t careful, the savings that took decades to accumulate can quickly evaporate.

Fortunately, aging comes with at least one financial advantage – senior discounts. If they know where to look, older adults can get a break on prices for everything from a haircut to a fastfood meal to a seat on an airplane.

“Taking advantage of these opportunities is a smart move for seniors and their families looking to stretch their dollars,” said Chris Orestis, president of LifeCare Xchange. “Plenty of opportunities exist out there to shave a little or a lot off what you pay. Unfortunately, many people don’t take advantage of these discounts as often as they should.

In many cases, that could be because it just doesn’t occur to them to bring it up. In some cases, it may be because

they have a hard time thinking of themselves as seniors.”

In scouring for discounts, he says, a few things to keep in mind include: • Don’t assume you’re too young for a senior discount. At what age do these discounts kick in? Is it 65? 60? 55? “Every place is different, and in some cases, you may already be eligible for a discount at a business you frequent and you just see DISCOUNTS, Page 2B

The key to learning about senior discounts is to just ask.

MMHW file photo

Justin Vick Managing Editor

Wave hello to your neighbors

G

County Park and Recreation, the Town of Matthews and the Arts and Science Council of Mecklenburg County.

Demond Carter, founder of the Purple Charlotte Steppers, said the soul line dance class had a small turnout at the first session on Jan. 6, when Gail Goldberg, of south Charlotte, was the only attendee.

Goldberg was teaching a tai chi class at Crews Recreation Center earlier that day and saw Carter setting up. She decided to stick around, not knowing she would be getting a private lesson.

“It was so much fun, so I told everyone about it,” Goldberg said.

“The dancing is easy, but it uses a lot of energy. The music is great.

Anytime they play any song, you can move to it, you can cha-cha.”

Word has spread since then, thanks in part to Goldberg. More

rowing up, I had a grandmother in North Carolina and a granny in South Carolina. When my grandmother died, my family moved into her house. The first night I slept there, I had a dream she spit at me like a cat.

It didn't take long for me to notice there weren't any other children on the block. Just about everyone who lived on our street had white hair.

Looking back, I realize I gave everyone who lived on that quiet street a reason to hate us. I would fire several rounds from a toy machine gun (I was a Rambo fan) or bounce a basketball for about 90 minutes a day (I was a Tar Heel fan).

No matter how loud it got at the Vick house, we'd always wave when neighbors drove past the house or stopped to talk when they went for walks. Eventually, neighbors started warming up to us.

I had to interview a grandparent for a school project. Since I didn't have any grandparents nearby, Mrs. Morris stepped in to answer all my questions about what it was like to grow up without a TV. “We had to make our own fun,” she told me. That didn't sound fun to me at the time.

Mr. Patterson would let me earn money by cutting his grass.

I was too intimidated by his riding lawnmower, so I chose to use his push mower even if it meant a couple extra hours of work.

Mrs. Ellis would bake us desserts and send me birthday cards.

see STEPPERS, Page 2B

see VICK, Page 2B

FEEL THE RHYTHM Participants move to the music during a recent soul line dance class at Crews Recreation Center in Matthews. Karie Simmons/MMHW photos

Purple Charlotte Steppers offers free dance classes

by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

MATTHEWS – There’s no magic pill that reduces stress, increases energy, expands mental capacity and improves flexibility, strength, balance and endurance, but there is dance.

Just ask Calann Little, of Matthews, who recently did the chacha and the grapevine in a soul line dance class hosted by the Purple Charlotte Steppers Club at Crews Recreation Center.

“We being seniors, it helps us challenge ourselves,” Little said.

“Every time we go to the doctor, they say we need to move more and walk more, so this is a fun way to do that. It wakes up every muscle in your body.”

Plus, the music is upbeat and infectious.

“It gives you that rhythm, so you really want to move,” she said.

Demond Carter, founder of the Purple Charlotte Steppers, leads the dance class. His organization has been in the community since 2005.

Purple Charlotte Steppers Club is a social organization that has been hosting professional dance classes, sponsoring local and national events and initiating programming in the community since 2005.

They recently started offering

soul line dance classes on Mondays at Crews Recreation Center and “Ballroom Made Easy” classes on Wednesdays at Matthews Community Center. Both are free and open to the public thanks to a partnership between the Purple Charlotte Steppers, Mecklenburg

Former child care provider gives grandparenting lessons CHARLOTTE – First-time author Linda MacConnachie has released a self-help book for grandparents, “This Was Not on My Bucket List: Navigating 'Old School' Grandparenting in MacConnachie a 'Newfangled' World.”

The former child care provider was inspired by her own journey that, despite deep love and affection for her 10 grandchildren, proved to be a new job in itself.

As the former owner and director of Sunshine Station Child Development Centers in Indian Trail, MacConnachie is no stranger to children’s many needs – from nutritional requirements to discipline to what to do when a kid just won’t stop biting. What she didn’t count on, however, was the time commitment required of grandpar-

ents in the 21st century and the language of an increasingly technological society.

“Thanks to the many questions from my fellow yogis about temper tantrums, time-outs and terrible twos (oops, teens), I was inspired to share my experience as Nana with others,” MacConnachie said. “Being on speed dial for 10 grands was not on my bucket list. But, having been an early childhood educator for over 30 years, I thought I had all the answers and was ready to step up and Nana. Boy, was I wrong!”

Realizing she was likely not the only person who was overwhelmed with the many responsibilities of grandparenting, MacConnachie picked up her pen.

“The rules of the game were changed,” she said. “Times have moved from the wooden

spoon to the negotiating table with mini-CEOs in control. The response to ‘because I said so’ is now ‘you are not the boss of me!’ Throw in your picky eater saying, ‘I’m allergic to broccoli’ and game on!”

The book, released by Warren Publishing, hit No. 1 on Amazon's Hot New Release List for grandparents during her second week, according to MacConnachie. You can also find it at her website, www.SOSNavigations.com.

Right: Linda MacConnachie enlisted in Lake Wylie-based Warren Publishing to produce her book, “This Was Not on My Bucket List.”

The Union County Chamber of Commerce presented her with the organization’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award for her work at Sunshine Station Child Development Centers.

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Page 2B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21, 2020

STEPPERS (continued from page 1B)

people showed up to the soul line dance class on Feb. 10 and Carter said many of them were familiar faces.

Carter has been teaching the classes himself with the occasional help of other Purple Charlotte Steppers instructors. He said people seem to be enjoying moving their bodies while stimulating their minds by keeping rhythm and remembering steps.

He said it’s important that everyone is moving and having a good time. He also wants the routines to be challenging.

“I think sometimes we look at our older population and we put limitations on them that don’t exist,” he said. “We have a woman who comes every week who is in her nineties and I don’t change the routine for her. We can certainly adapt a move if someone needs that, but we don’t change the song.”

Ruby Alston, of Matthews, loves to dance and was having a hard time finding anywhere to dance before Purple Charlotte Steppers began offering free classes.

“I just had a barrel of fun and I feel good about what I did – even though I stumbled around a lot – it’s good exercise,” she said.

She likes how Carter breaks down the moves and reviews the steps to make sure everyone is on the same page. Even if it’s your first class, Alston said you won’t feel like you’re behind.

That safe, welcoming environment is what keeps people coming back.

Alston said it’s less threatening than the gym and dancing is a good activity for people who don’t enjoy other types of exercising or aerobics.

“Everyone loves music,” she said. “It touches their soul and they want to move.”

Want to go?

Soul line dance classes are Mondays from noon to 1 p.m. at Crews Recreation Center, 1201 Crews Road. “Ballroom Made Easy” classes are Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. at Matthews Community Center, 100 E. McDowell St. Both are free, open to the public and run through the end of June. Visit www.purplecharlotte.com for details.

The free dance classes offered by the Purple Charlotte Steppers run through the end of June. Founder Demond Carter hopes the classes will continue in the fall, but that depends on having the funding and enough public interest. Karie Simmons/MMHW photos

DISCOUNTS (continued from page 1B)

don’t realize it,” Orestis said. AARP membership starts at 50 and comes with numerous discounts built into the membership. So, if you’re 49, those particular senior discounts are just one year away. For others, you may have to wait. For example, Chili’s restaurants offer a 10% senior discount to those 55 and older. At the other end of the scale, Taco Bell will give you a free beverage, but not until you are at least 65.

• When you go can make a difference.

Sometimes discounts happen on a particular day of the week. Just as an example, some Captain D’s restaurants offer a “Happy Wednesday” discount where once a week seniors can choose from among eight meals at a reduced price. “You might not want to schedule your entire life around discounts, but for some individual things – such as a night at the movies or dinner out or even a shopping trip to a retail store – it’s worth knowing that going a day earlier or a day lat-

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er can make a difference,” Orestis said.

• Sometimes you don’t even have to be a senior. Plenty of opportunities exist to save money whether you’re advancing in years or not, Orestis said. Many stores offer store “memberships” that come with a discount with each purchase. Also, the American Automobile Association is another organization whose members enjoy a number of discounts in much the same way AARP members do.

“Individually, some discounts might amount to just a dollar or two,” Orestis says.

“But as you take advantage of more of them, those savings can grow. When you’re on a fixed income – or just want to get the most out of every dollar you have – the difference can be significant.”

About Chris Orestis Chris Orestis, known as the “Retirement Genius,” is president of LifeCare Xchange and a nationally recognized healthcare expert and senior advocate. He is the author of the books, “Help on the Way” and “A Survival Guide to Aging.” connected and like you just want to be left alone. But I speak from experience how even the smallest of interactions or gestures can make a big difference in someone's life.

While I was bummed at the time not to have anyone my age to fire my machine gun at, I feel really fortunate to grow up on that particular street with all the people with the white hair.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21, 2020 • Page 3B

Future of Livable Meck depends on collaboration

by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

MINT HILL – Rebecca Herbert finds her work with Livable Meck lovable.

Herbert's role as community engagement and strategy manager allows her to bring organizations together to tackle some of the county's biggest problems.

“We have so many wonderful communities in Mecklenburg County, each with their own characteristics,” she said. “We recognize there are more things that bring us together than really separate us.”

Livable Meck uses what Herbert describes as “high-tech, high-touch techniques,” such as Engagement Cafe, Lunch & Learns and online tools, to connect with people.

“We tell partners by working with us, they are really expanding their reach,” Herbert said. “This really is impactful for some of our smaller nonprofits. They may not have a great network yet of donors, information data or volunteers.”

One of Herbert's favorite success stories surrounds the mental health stigma.

Livable Meck invited Novant Health, Atrium Health and Forest Hill Church to participate in an Engagement Cafe to address the mental health stigma. From that collaboration, 16 organizations had employees certified in mental health first aid.

“Unfortunately with mental health, if you’re walking up the street and see someone who may be suffering, sometimes we walk on the other side of the street,”

Herbert said. “We don't know how to handle that. Mental health first aid certification empowers people to go back and offer an appropriate way to help those folks who may be suffering.”

Mecklenburg County and Red Ventures offered employment to adults served by Autism After 18 after Livable Meck highlighted the nonprofit during an Engagement Cafe two years ago.

Livable Meck's 2019 progress report highlights how communities have gone about solving problems.

For instance, police departments in Matthews and Mint Hill have pooled resources during severe weather, while Pineville Neighbors Place worked with Digital Charlotte to deliver laptops and digital literacy to vulnerable residents.

Livable Meck will hold a Lunch & Learn program on nature's benefits for health and wellness on April 9, as well as roll out a portal featuring Earth Day-themed events in April as part of the observance's 50th anniversary.

Livable Meck held 50 engagement opportunities and heard from over 4,200 people in forums across the county from August 2018 to May 2019. It found that people across the region valued healthy, accessible, affordable and safe communities. Herbert also noticed the sentiment of togetherness and unity came up in sessions and surveys. She found that people in towns like Davidson understand affordability issues in Center City Charlotte affect them and want to help find solutions.

Mint Hill Mayor Brad Simmons

Rebecca Herbert, community engagement and strategy manager with Livable Meck, conducts a workshop at the 2019 Greater Matthews Business Expo. MMHW file photo

participated in the Livable Meck events in his town.

“They really did a good job of trying to pull out of the citizens of Mint Hill what they really wanted,” Simmons said. “What Mint Hill wants is very reflective of the results found across the county.”

Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi, who directs Mecklenburg County's Land Use & Environmental Services Agency, said Livable Meck is not only about information and collaboration, but also about results.

“Typically, government is really good at doing a study and putting

it on the shelf, but that's not what we are about,” Gujjarlapudi said.

“Livable Meck is about achieving results, so there is actually a measure that we are putting into place to ensure that we actually have successes and we celebrate them every year.”

He said estimates show the region will welcome one million more people by 2030 if it continues the current rate of growth.

Currently, the county has 1.1 or 1.2 million people.

The Foundation of the Carolinas, City of Charlotte and Meck-

lenburg County started the effort in 2012.

“The intent was not to force any decisions on local communities, but rather understand what their needs are and inform them what other communities within the region are thinking and how development is going within their communities,” Gujjarlapudi said. “But also have a forum where different points of view can come together and talk about it.”

On the web: www.livablemeck. com

SHOP TALK

How a neighboring newspaper company's bankruptcy affects us Justin Vick Managing Editor

Fifteen years ago, I got into a heated exchange with my boss on the first day of a new job while we waited in line for our burgers to cook at some fast food joint. For the rest of the day, I worried my next meal was going to be at the soup kitchen.

I remember telling him that I didn't agree with our newspaper having veteran editors overseeing lifestyle-oriented content when we could use those resources for local news reporters. My boss countered that those editors were award-winning.

I didn't dispute that. They were very talented, but to a recent business graduate, the idea of a daily metropolitan newspaper with more than 200 editorial people on staff publishing generic content ran counter to our core competency – local news.

But I had no influence four days removed from answering phones and nine months removed from graduating college. Part of my 40 deadlines a week were typing up school lunch menus and compiling listings for a

twice-a-week section.

I worked full-time at the Charlotte Observer for about 18 months – long enough to work for two executive editors, two publishers and two ownership groups. Surprisingly, I left on my own volition. I enjoyed working there, but a lot of my older, more established coworkers seemed stressed about their careers.

I wasn't surprised to hear the Charlotte Observer's parent company, McClatchy, filed for bankruptcy. The buyouts, layoffs, production scale-backs and the sale of its Stonewall Street office served as clues this would eventually happen.

I believe the Charlotte region can sustain a daily metropolitan newspaper in today's digital age. It just has to be operating under ownership with reasonable financial expectations, as well as a respect for the local market and journalism.

Over the years, I've come across people that confuse our newspapers with the Charlotte Observer. Even when we were in that magazine-ish format, some people thought we were a branch of the Charlotte Observer.

We're not.

This newspaper is part of Charlotte Media Group, which is a much smaller company. Our editorial staff (me, Karie, Andrew and Kayla) produce four print newspapers, three websites and more than 20 social media channels.

Oh, how I wish I had the resources of the Charlotte Observer, but I enjoy doing what we do here. For the record, we're a community newspaper delivered free to people's homes. We're not equipped to chase ambulances, track court cases and launch conspiracy investigations, but we do try to help keep the community updated on major issues.

Do we cover this community like a blanket? No, but putting in the work week after week to get to that editor's utopia is what makes my job rewarding. The very last time I saw my parents smile was in regards to my newspaper work, so this job is much more to me than a means to buy Cadbury Eggs, though I do buy an awful lot of those.

Another reason I hated to see the news of McClatchy's bankruptcy filing is that I had to read the same obituary for newspapers that I've been reading for the past 20 years. My take is that they're not dying. They're evolving.

Twenty years ago, journalists worried about losing their jobs often stressed over having skills that could be utilized in other industries. But guess what is happening now. I'm seeing larger companies act very similar to newsrooms when it comes to promoting their brands. But that's a topic for another time.

For now, just know that we are growing more efficient by the day and our resolve to produce newspapers that add value to our communities will not waver.

From the Publisher This week, I have been fielding a lot of phone calls regarding the bankruptcy filing of The Charlotte Observer. Most of these calls are from our readers wondering if we, too, are in the same financial peril. My response is simple. No one has more respect for the journalists at the Charlotte Observer than we do. Local journalism is at the heart of what we do. Our commitment to connecting the communities we serve to information and local news has only strengthened over the past several years. Our commitment to that trend is so strong, in fact, that we launched a fourth newspaper in January of 2020.

We believe hyper local news coverage is vital. The stories that the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly, South Charlotte Weekly, The Weekly Waxhaw and Indian Trail Weekly cover affects all of our day to day lives. Our company is growing and our staff is committed to providing solid, trustworthy content to our readers along with a targeted reach to our advertisers for years to come.

– Adrian Garson

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Page 4B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21, 2020

THINGS TO DO Feb. 21 Card Gaming Your Local Game Store hosts a Magic The Gathering: Booster Draft on Fridays.

Players build decks through booster packs. Entry costs $15. 704-729-4547 7-10 p.m.; 6908 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

Feb. 22 Paws to Read Children, ages 5 to 11, read to a volunteer therapy dog at the Matthews Library. 704416-5000 10:30 a.m.-noon.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews Community Service Teens engage in service during Community Service Saturday at the Matthews Library. Register in advance.

704-416-5000 2-3:30 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Feb. 23 Bless-A-Baby Bright Blessings holds a Bless-A-Baby Shower & Open House. Help support babies by bringing donations from the nonprofit's wishlist.

704-846-2329 2-4 p.m.; 1150 Crews Road, Matthews

Bowling Benefit The Palestine Children's Relief Fund Charlotte holds its sixth annual Bowling for PCRF benefit at Bowlero Matthews. Tickets cost $20. www. pcrf.net/event/charlotte 3-5 p.m.; 11210 Brigman Road, Matthews

Feb. 25 Paws to Read Children, ages 5 to 11, read to a volunteer therapy dog at the Matthews Library. 704416-5000 3:30-4:30 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews Mardi Gras Carolina Beer Temple holds a Mardi Gras Party with craft beers, food and music.

704-246-8196 4-10 p.m.; 195 N. Trade St., Matthews Book Club The Southern Voices Book Club discusses “Southernmost” by Silas House at the Mint Hill Library. 704-4165200 6-7 p.m.; 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

Feb. 26 Global Cafe Matthews Library presents

English Conversation Club: Global Cafe, a workshop in which adults can practice their English speaking and listening skills. 704-416-5000 12:30-2:30 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

5:30 p.m. Tickets will be sold in advance, not at the event.

Buy them at www.MHWClub. com. Attendees must be 21. mhwclub@gmail.com 6-8:30 p.m.; 5504 Lebanon Road, Mint Hill

Feb. 27

Scouts & Stouts The Loyalist Market pairs five imperial stouts with five Girl Scout cookies and five cheeses. The class costs $45.

704-814-9866 6:30-8 p.m.; 435 N. Trade St., Matthews

Chamber Luncheon The Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly member luncheon at Jimmie's Restaurant. Register in advance. 704-573-8282 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; 7024 Brighton Park Drive, Mint Hill Black History Children, ages 5-11, learn about a slave that worked with clay during an African American History Month program at the Matthews Library.

Register in advance. 704-4165000 4-4:45 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews Paws to Read Children, ages 5 to 11, read to a volunteer therapy dog at the Matthews Library. 704416-5000 4:30-5 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews Women's Club The Mint Hill Women’s Club invites the community to sip beverages, savor hors d’oeuvres and support a good cause at their 45th annual Sip, Savor, Support at Pine Lake Country Club. Doors open at

March 3 Coffee With Cop The Mint Hill Police Department holds Coffee with a Cop at Mint Hill Tool Rental. www.minthill.com 8 a.m.; 11223 Blair Road, Mint Hill Business Expo The Matthews Chamber of Commerce presents the Greater Matthews Business Expo at CPCC Levine Campus. www.matthewschamber. org 4-7 p.m.; 2800 Campus Ridge Road, Matthews

March 4 Lunch & Listen The Lunch and Listen Book Club holds a live reading and discusses “This I Believe – Life Lessons” at the Matthews Library.704-416-5000, opt. 4 12:30-1:30 p.m.; 230 Mat-

thews Station St., Matthews

March 5 Vaping Dangers The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office presents “The Dangers of Vaping” at the Matthews Library. Register in advance. 704-416-5000 6-7 p.m.; 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews

March 6 Family Fun Family Fun Night at Crews presents Professional Wrestling Night. CWF Mid-Atlantic Wrestling will return to host a family-friendly professional wrestling event with five matches and live entertainment. Visit www.matthews fun.com to buy tickets. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $2 for children. Call 704-3217275 for more information.

6-9 p.m.; 1201 Crews Road, Matthews

March 16 Knitting Group Knot Just Knitting invites anyone who knits, crochets or wants to learn on the third Thursday of the month at Mint Hill Library.

1-3 p.m.; 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

March 20 Senior Expo Charlotte Media

Group

presents the Thrive Over 55 Senior Expo at Christ Covenant Church. The free event features more than 60 vendors, free food and opportunities to connect with community resources and agencies serving older adults. Register through www.eventbrite.com or by calling 704-849-2261.

Email adrian@cmgweekly. com to become a sponsor.

9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 800 Fullwood Drive, Matthews

April 20 Knitting Group Knot Just Knitting invites anyone who knits, crochets or wants to learn on the third Thursday of the month at Mint Hill Library.

1-3 p.m.; 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

Ongoing Heritage Exhibit The Matthews Heritage Museum showcases the temporary exhibit, “House with a Heart,” which details the 40year history of the Matthews HELP Center. The museum is open Thursday to Saturday through March 7. Admission costs $4 for adults, $2 for ages 10 to 17 and free for under 10. Admission is free on the first Saturday of the month. Tours are available by appointment. 704-708-4996 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; 232 N. Trade St., Matthews

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CAROLINE BACKUS INDEPENDENCE TRACK AND FIELD Independence senior Caroline Backus won the NCHSAA 4A wheelchair championship for the second straight season.

Competing unopposed, Backus finished in 21.85 seconds to win the title after finishing in 22.34 in last year’s unopposed finals.

Are you a coach and know an incredible athlete you’d like us to feature? email us at Andrew@cmgweekly.com

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21, 2020 • Page 5B

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Reqs at least Bach/ Master in Mgmt IS/Math/ Comp Sci /rel/equiv & if Bach 5, if Master 3 yrs progressive retail analytics exp incl: prog using R, SQL, & Java; machine learning using SAS & R; constr econ & growth sys stats models; experimental desg & anlys; data visualization & presentation; defining performance metrics; & debugging analysis. Reqs up to 5% US & < 10% int’l trvl.

Hires must submit to BG check. Send resume to: Ralena Rowe, Compass Group USA, Inc., 2815 Coliseum Centre Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217.

Ref: #105807.

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Page 6B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 21, 2020

DINING SCORES Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties inspected these restaurants Jan. 31-Feb. 13:

Trail – 90 Violations include: Certified person in charge wasn't available; chili and gravy weren’t held hot enough; diced ham, cut lettuce, hashbrowns and sliced tomatoes weren't held cold enough; and shelving needed cleaning.

Lowest Scores

• Wendy's, 6849 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill – 90 Violations include: Employee turned off faucet handles with bare hands after washing; sanitizer wasn't at proper concentration; salads in cooler and raw beef weren't held cold enough; and foods on cold-holding line didn't have time stamps.

• Waffle House, 13727 E. Independence Blvd., Indian

Matthews

31 Danson of “The Good Place” 34 Birdlike 36 A very long time 38 Neighbor of Pennsylvania 39 Netflix or YouTube 42 Online option that turns into “show” when clicked 43 Absence of complication 44 Profess 45 Sun or moon 46 UPS competitor 47 The longer of the two Morse symbols 49 “Hey” alternatives 50 Restaurateur Lagasse 53 Part of a headset 55 It settles a case 61 Classic hit 62 Catcher of counterfeiters, in old lingo

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE L I M I T

P R A D A

A R I D

R O D E

M C A T

E L L E

S A K B I N S E E R H E R L G U E O G O Y S K E N A D I N O V I W E S N S E

L A T K E S O U T C A S T

T R A I L B O R A T

O N Y X L E D T O P H D S

F O R D S

S E M I P R O

• Harris Teeter (meat & seafood), 1351 Chestnut Lane – 99.5 • Harris Teeter (meats & seafood), 15080 Idlewild Road – 100

Mint Hill

• Wendy's, 6849 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 90 • Zaxby's, 6911 Brighton Park Drive – 94

Charlotte (28227)

• Americana Restaurant, 1628 Matthews-Mint Hill Matthews (Union) • Carnitas Mexican GuanaRoad – 96.5 • Best Wok II, 1819 Mat- juato, 7900 Stevens Mill Road – 97 Sales Corporation thews Pkwy.

– 96.5 The Township New York Times Syndication Chick-fil-A, 6390 Wed• El Valle MexcianAvenue, Restau- New •York, 620 Eighth N.Y. 10018 Road – 96 rant, 305 W. John St. – 94.5 Call:dington For Information 1-800-972-3550 • First Watch, 1701 MatFor Release Tuesday,• Harris July 9,Teeter 2019(restaurant), 1351 Chestnut Lane – 98.5 thews Township Pkwy. – 95

R O G E R

A G L C O H O W O L O U S E M I Y N C

E M O T E S

F A I R S H A K E E M C O E R E S O N

E L S E

R I M S

E V E R

D E N Y

M A I N E

E S T E E

• Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 2530 Sardis Road N. – 95 • Food Lion (produce), 9848 Monroe Road – 95.5 • Salsarita's Fresh Cantina, 304 S. Sharon Amity Road – 96 • Sheslea's Pizza and Pasta,

Edited by Will Shortz

Crossword ACROSS 1 “We should totally do that!”

5 Key of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7: Abbr.

9 Ain’t I a stinker?

14 Energy field, in holistic medicine 15 Made-up story 16 Rub the wrong way 17 Metal that rusts 18 Coup d’___ 19 What a tabloid may be sued for 20 Need for targeted advertising 23 Medium for modern matchmaking 24 Ghost in a haunted house, e.g.

25 ’60s conflict site 28 “That sounds painful” 30 Ozs. and lbs.

• Food Lion (market), 9848 Monroe Road – 98 • Metro Diner, 10412 E. Independence Blvd. – 93.5 • Miki's Grill, 10416 E. Independence Blvd. – 96.5 • Outback Steakhouse, 9623 E. Independence Blvd.

– 92.5 • Primavera Pizza, 1319 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 95.5 • Tropical Bakery and Cafe, 11100 Monroe Road – 95

63 Retort to “Are not!”

64 Investigator 65 [Same source as before] 66 Like drone bees 67 Pizza size 68 Disadvantages found in this puzzle’s three longest Across answers …

69 … and advantages found in them DOWN 1 Concerning the nonordained 2 $ : dollar :: € : ___ 3 Disney sci-fi classic 4 Eldest Stark daughter on “Game of Thrones” 5 “Resume normal speed,” in a score 6 Each animal in Noah’s Ark had one 7 First thing in the morning?

8 Like 747s 9 Beauty parlors 10 Butter spreader 11 “Occasion” celebrated 364 times a year in Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass” 12 “The First ___” (carol) 13 “South Park” boy 21 Leading by a single point

1

2

3

4

5

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7

No. 0604

8

9

10

14

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34

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32

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50

13

24 28

45

12

22

23 25

11

48

6453Albemarle Road – 93

Charlotte (28270)

• Food Lion (deli), 9848 Monroe Road – 97 • Popeyes, 1729 Sardis Road N. – 98 • Tony's Pizza, 1605 Galleria Blvd. – 93.5

Indian Trail

• China II, 5850 U.S. 74 E. – 98.5 • First China, 6640 Old Monroe Road – 90.5 • Food Lion (meat market), 5850 E. U.S. 74 – 100 • Food Lion (deli), 5850 E. U.S. 74 – 99.5 • Golden Key European Food Market, 1001 Van Buren Ave. – 92

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PUZZLE BY JAKE HALPERIN

22 ___ Rizzo, hustler 37 How a in “Midnight smartphone Cowboy” knows where it is, for short 25 Cheesy snack 38 De-squeak 26 French “to have” 40 So-called “architect of 27 Tough puzzle India” 29 Accepting destiny 41 TV programming filter 32 Mi-mi-re-re-do, in a children’s 46 Option with a song trash can icon 33 College 48 Making ___ accommodations 51 Host’s task, 35 Got full, say informally

52 Something to bend over backward for 54 Athlete’s leg problem 55 West Virginia resource 56 Gymnast Korbut 57 Bigheaded 58 Actor Sharif 59 Scandinavian capital founded in the mid-11th century 60 Enemies

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year).

Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

• Athens Pizza, 2920 Old Monroe Road – 99.5 Visit www.matthewsminthill weekly.com for more scores.

Feb. 21

Feb. 27

• Amos’ Southend: Anything Goes • Fillmore: Subtronics; Wallows • Goodtimes Bar: TARGeT • Hickory Tavern (Ballantyne); Thirsty Horses • Mac’s Speed Shop (Matthews): Rob Matthews • Middle James Brewing: Christopher Michael • Moochies Tavern: Delta Fire • Neighborhood Theatre: Carbon Leaf • Queens South: Troublemaker • Southern Range: RJ Adams • Spectrum Center: Marc Anthony • Stooges Pub: Right Turn Clyde • Trail House: Pluto for Planet • Vintner’s Hill: Rod Cailloueta • Visulite: Cosmic Charlie

• Amos’ Southend: Brit Drozda • Bistro D’Antonio: Will Lee • Fillmore: Young Dolph & Key Glock • Knights Theater: Old Crow Medicine Show • Lake View Grill: Jade Moore • Seaboard Brewing: Abbey Elmore

Feb. 22

54

Stallings

LOUD&LIVE

49

53

• Harris Teeter (deli), 6610 Old Monroe Road – 99.5 • Moe's Southwest Grill, 6443 Old Monroe Road – 94.5 • Sonic Drive-In, 14315 E. Independence Blvd. – 96 • Subway, 308 Unionville-Indian Trail Road – 93.5 • Subway (Walmart), 2101 Younts Road – 98 • Waffle House, 13727 E. Independence Blvd. – 90 • Walmart, 2101 Younts Road – 96 • Zaxby's, 13967 E. Independence Blvd. – 94

• Amos’ Southend: Killakoi • Beantown Tavern: Coconut Groove Band • BOplex: Lauren Daigle w/ Johnnyswim • Fillmore: Queensryche • Pour 64: Jason Brigner • Southern Range: Analog Crash • Stooges Pub: Bending Fate • Trail House: Unknown Artist • Treehouse Vineyards: Karaoke w/ Marty Vanderlip • Visulite: The Mystics’ Ball - Southern Gothic

Feb. 23 • Amos’ Southend: Cody Canada and the Departed • Beantown Tavern: Jade Moore; Tim Apple • Visulite: Ruston Kelly

Feb. 24

Venues Charlotte • Amos’ Southend: 1423 S. Tryon St. • BOplex: 2700 E. Independence Blvd.

• Fillmore: 820 Hamilton St. • Hickory Tavern (Ballantyne): 13900 Conlan Circle • Knights Theater: 430 S. Tryon St. • Neighborhood Theatre: 511 E. 36th St. • Spectrum Center: 333 E. Trade St. • Visulite: 1615 Elizabeth Ave. Indian Trail • Trail House: 6751 Old Monroe Road Matthews • Beantown Tavern: 130 Matthews Station St. • Mac’s Speed Shop: 142 E. John St. • Moochies Tavern: 15060 Idlewild Road • Seaboard Brewing: 213 N. Trade St. Mint Hill • Pour 64: 4410 Mint Hill Village • Stooges Pub: 13230 Albemarle Road • Vintner’s Hill: 7427 Matthews-Mint Hill Road Monroe • Goodtimes Bar: 1905 Dickerson Blvd.

• Southern Range: 151 S. Stewart St. • Treehouse Vineyards: 301 Bay St.

• Fillmore: Allen Stone

Feb. 25 • Fillmore: Dermot Kennedy • Mac’s Speed Shop (Matthews): Matone • Milestone Club: The Almas • Neighborhood Theatre: Junior Brown w/ Jim Garrett

Feb. 26 • Fillmore: Trippie Redd • Milestone Club: Dihyo • Trail House: New Local

Pineville • Middle James Brewing: 400 N. Polk St. • Shake Shake: 9925 Leitner Drive Stallings • Lake View Grill: 9750 Tournament Drive Waxhaw • Bistro D’Antonio: 3909 Providence Road S. • Queens South: 1201 N. Broome St.

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