Matthews Messenger | January 2021

JANUARY — 2021

Volume 3 — Issue 1

The project to widen S. Trade Street near Weddington Road is near completion.

In this issue...

2 4 5

Learn about the NC Vaccination Plan on page 2.

Keep These Messages On Your Mind Engage and Connect: Follow the Town of Matthews on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, NextDoor and sign up to receive notifications.

Visit www.matthewsnc.gov for more info.

Stumptown Park name change? Learn more on page 4.

MATTHEWSNC.GOV

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

Matthews CARES Act Funding Relief Program on page 5.

@MATTHEWSNC

TOWN OF MATTHEWS

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

www.matthewsnc.gov

Matthews Messenger | JANUARY 2021

MANAGER’S MESSAGE Happy New Year! I hope you all enjoyed the holiday season and were able to spend some time with loved ones.

The Board of Commissioners will hold the first meeting of the year on Monday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m.

The meeting will be held remotely using the Zoom virtual meeting platform. Visit www.matthewsnc. gov to view the agenda and tune in to the meeting live on Monday night. All of the Town Board meetings can be found on the Town’s website or YouTube channel.

As we continue to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and deal with the continued rise in cases, there is some good news to report.

The Town’s grant program for small businesses and nonprofits has awarded nearly $300,000 to help them offset the costs of the pandemic. Read more about this on page 5.

In other good news, the COVID-19 vaccine is being administered. The North Carolina Vaccine Distribution Plan includes four phases. Earlier this week, Mecklenburg County Public Health announced that it will begin offering COVID-19 vaccines to Phase 1B Group 1, which includes all adults 75 years or older, beginning January 6. This is by appointment only. Vaccines are offered through Mecklenburg County Public Health or check with your health care provider.

Please visit https://www.mecknc. gov/covid-19/pages/vaccine. aspx for more information. See the bottom of this page for more information on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Hazen Blodgett HAZEN BLODGETT MATTHEWS TOWN MANAGER HBLODGETT@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

Check out the calendar on page 6 for Matthews’ events and Board of Commissioners meetings so you can stay involved and engaged in all that Matthews has to offer.

BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

How Do I Know the COVID-19 Vaccine is Safe?

Scientists had a head start.

Although the vaccines were developed quickly, they were built

upon years of work in developing vaccines for similar viruses.

Testing was thorough and successful.

More than 70,000 people participated in clinical

trials for two vaccines to see if they are safe and effective. To date, the vaccines are nearly 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 with no safety concerns.

There are no safety concerns for senior citizens.

Clinical trials ensured the

vaccines meet safety standards and protect adults of different races, ethnicities, and ages, including adults over the age of 65, who mounted a strong immune response.

There is no COVID-19 virus in the vaccine.

The vaccine imitates the infection so that

our bodies think a germ like the virus is attacking. This creates the antibody defenses we need to fight off COVID-19 if and when the real germ attacks.

Information comes from www.mecknc.gov/covid-19/pages/vaccine

2

Matthews Messenger | JANUARY 2021

School Resource Guide to Help Students Find Educational Fit The Town of Matthews has published a

on Education who put a great deal of time

School Resource Guide to help students

and effort into this project.”

and families easily find information on education options. The School Resource

The School Resource Guide can be found

Guide was created by the Matthews

at www.matthewsnc.gov/schools. The

Committee on Education, a group of

guide contains a snapshot of schools within

citizens who act in an advisory capacity to

8 miles of downtown Matthews – including

the Town Board on matters of interest and

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS),

importance to students and parents.

private and charter schools.

“The School Resource Guide will be a great benefit to students and families in Matthews who are looking into options for their education,” said Mayor John Higdon. “We are grateful to the Matthews Committee

3

Matthews Messenger | JANUARY 2021

Stumptown Park Name Change?

Meeting to be held January 13 When Stumptown Park opened in 1986, it was named “Stumptown” in recognition of the original name given to this community in the early 1800’s. The park – located in the heart of downtown Matthews - features a large open lawn, performance stage, playground, picnic areas, volleyball court and Veterans Memorial area.

Stumptown Park is home to many of the Town’s signature events including Food Truck Fridays, BeachFest Matthews, and Matthews Alive.

The Hooks – Orr American Legion Post 235 recently completed a renovation of the Veterans Memorial area in the Park and has requested the name of

4

the park be changed to Stumptown Veterans Memorial Park. The Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on January 13, 2021 to discuss this. The meeting will be held remotely using the Zoom virtual meeting platform.

Citizens must sign up to be recognized to speak during the meeting. Speakers will be limited to 4 minutes each.

Speaker sign-up closes at 2PM on January 13, 2021. For more information, please visit www.matthewsnc.gov/ stumptown.

Matthews Messenger | JANUARY 2021

Town of Matthews Grant Program Helps Businesses in Need Small businesses and nonprofit organizations have been some of the hardest hit during the Covid-19 pandemic – revenue losses, increased costs to adapt to new restrictions, and some even having to close their doors – are just some of the ways they have been impacted. In an effort to help offset these increased costs, Town staff and the Town of Matthews Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) established a grant program. Small businesses and nonprofits in Matthews were invited to apply to receive one-time reimbursement grants of up to $10,000.

The source of funding for this grant program

“We are very grateful to receive a grant from the Town of Matthews CARES Act program,” said Carr.

“The funds received from the grant will expand our telemedicine opportunities for current patients and increase access for new patients. We are blessed to be a part of this community and in a town that supports our mission to provide free, high quality health care.”

was Mecklenburg County using funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and

Fitness Together, a business that provides

Economic Security (CARES) Act Federal

personal training and physical therapy in

stimulus package. The Matthews CARES Act

Matthews, received a grant. Owner Aaron

Funding Relief Program awarded a total

Forinash says his business has had to adapt

of $287,791.04 to 27 businesses and 5 non-

and invest in home exercise equipment and

profits in Matthews.

technology to train clients virtually.

The Matthews Free Medical Clinic (MFMC)

”What a blessing it was to receive the

was one of the nonprofit organizations that

Matthews Town CARES Act Grant!”

received funding. Executive Director Amy

said Forinash. “Being a small business in

Carr says the clinic will use the funds to

Matthews for the last 18 years has been

upgrade their phone system to better serve

something we have proudly hung our

patients through telemedicine. MFMC is

hat on, but during C-19 we were hit hard!

a free clinic that provides quality medical

Through relentless work and blessings,

care for low income, uninsured individuals

such as the Matthews CARES Grant,

and families in our area.

Fitness Together Matthews looks forward to continuing to do private suite personal training for the great area residents for years to come!”

5

Matthews Messenger | JANUARY 2021

January 2021 Events Calendar Any questions?

Contact us!

Board of adjustment meeting

Board of Commissioners Meeting at 7:00 pm

Public input meeting about Stumptown Park at 4 pm + 7 pm

Appearance/ tree committee meeting

transportation advisory committee meeting

Board of Commissioners Meeting at 7:00 pm

For additional details, please visit: www.matthewsnc.gov/calendar.aspx Have any questions about the community? Contact us!

TOWN HALL

232 Matthews Station St. | Matthews, NC 28105 PHONE

(704) 847- 4411 E-MAIL

matthews@matthewsnc.gov WEB

www.matthewsnc.gov

6