Matthews Messenger | March 2021

MARCH — 2021

Volume 3 — Issue 3

Learn more about upcoming Easter events for the whole family on page 2.

In this issue...

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Matthews Fire & EMS help administer vaccines – 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.

MPD recognizes outstanding employees on page 4.

MATTHEWSNC.GOV

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

Summer camp registration is open! See page 5 for details.

@MATTHEWSNC

TOWN OF MATTHEWS

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

www.matthewsnc.gov

Matthews Messenger | March 2021

MANAGER’S MESSAGE It’s hard to believe that it has been nearly one year since the first cases of COVID-19 were identified in our area.

Fortunately, in the last few weeks, we have seen a decline in the number of cases and hospitalizations related to COVID-19. As the vaccine becomes more widespread, this trend is expected to continue.

It is still important that we continue to wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

Information about the COVID-19 vaccine is available on Mecklenburg County’s website: https://www.mecknc. gov/covid-19/pages/vaccine. aspx. You can also use North Carolina’s Online Tool: Find My Vaccine Group https:// findmygroup.nc.gov to find out when you are eligible to receive the vaccine. See page 5 to

learn how Matthews Fire & EMS is helping vaccinate people at clinics throughout the area.

As we look ahead to spring and warmer weather, we have some fun events planned for this month – including the return of the Great Easter Eggspedition.

Get all the details on page 3.

We also have a great lineup of summer camps – from STEAM to sports and art and much more. See page 5 for more information. Registration is now open at www.matthewsfun. com.

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

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

BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

Matthews Fire & EMS Helps Administer COVID-19 Vaccines

M

ecklenburg County continues the effort to vaccinate eligible groups as quickly as possible. The Department of Public Health was in need of qualified personnel to administer the injections.

Matthews Fire & EMS stepped in to help. To date, the men and women of Matthews Fire & EMS have worked nearly 50 shifts at vaccine clinics across Mecklenburg County.

“Distributing the vaccine county-wide is a tremendous task, so I’m glad that we can help play a role,” said Matthews Fire & EMS Chief Rob Kinniburgh.

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Matthews Messenger | March 2021

Upcoming Family Fun

Visit www.matthewsfun.com for more information

Biking Down the Bunny Trail The Easter Bunny is looking for bikers along the greenway on Saturday, March 20 from 10am-12pm! The Bunny will be available for free photos, and will also have a limited number of FREE bike helmets for kids. Look for the Bunny Trail signs on the greenway, near the South Trade Street access area. The Bunny can also be accessed from the parking lot behind Matthews Elementary School and the Matthews Community Center.

The rain location will be inside the Matthews Community Center.

House Hops The Easter Bunny Express will hit the road March 29, 30 & 31 from 9am-4pm.

The Bunny will come to your house for a socially distanced visit outside, and will bring a basket full of eggs and other treats! Families must register for a timeslot at www.matthewsfun.com.

There is a fee, and space is limited!

Great Easter Eggspedition The Great Easter Eggspedition will take place over 3 weeks, beginning March 20 through April 5. Twelve golden eggs will be hidden around Matthews in parks and on other town property, at landmarks, and around signature locations. Clues will be posted on the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resource Dept Facebook page each week.

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Matthews Messenger | March 2021

Matthews Police Department Honors Employees of the Year Matthews Police Chief Clark Pennington recently awarded the Citizen Volunteer, Civiliam Employee, and Officer of the Year Awards to three members of the department who demonstrated their hard work and commitment to excellence 2020.

From left to right: Citizen Volunteer of the Year John Willis, Civilian Employee of the Year Amanda Bruner - Crime Analyst, Officer of the Year - Officer Don Warren - Training Unit.

Citizen Volunteer of the Year: JOHN WILLIS John has exemplified the spirit of community policing and gone above and beyond his duties as a volunteer. In 2020, he assisted the Patrol Division with over 800 calls for service including directing traffic at accident scenes, foot patrols and patrol checks.

John also taught the Stop the Bleed course for all Town employees.

Civilian Employee of the Year: AMANDA BRUNER Crime Analyst Amanda Bruner joined the MPD in 2019 to lead the newly established Crime Analysis Unit. She has been an agent for change in guiding the entire organization to the stratified policing model. Amanda’s work to create various crime trend reports and analysis has been invaluable to the agency.

Officer of the Year: DON WARREN Officer Don Warren is 21-year veteran of the MPD. He now serves as the training coordinator. Officer Warren has worked very hard over the last year to improve the agency’s training standards. He assisted in creating and implementing a new career track program. Officer Warren also helped revamp the agency’s new hire training program.

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Matthews Messenger | March 2021

Summer Camp Registration Now Open The Town of Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Department offers a wide-range of both fullday and half day camps for school-aged kids all summer long. From sports, fine arts, to STEAM you’ll find it all here. For our full 2021 summer camp brochure please click here.

Registration is now open.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Wants Your Input The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is in the process of developing a Facilities Master Plan that will guide the Library over the next 10-15 years. Part of that process is getting feedback from the

community regarding what is most important to you regarding library locations. Visit www.cmlibrary.org/ blog/participate-facilities-master-plandiscussion-library to weigh in.

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Matthews Messenger | March 2021

March 2021 Events Calendar Any questions?

Contact us!

Summer Camp registration opens

Board of Commissioners special Meeting at 5:30 pm

parks, recreation and cultural resources advisory committee mtg

Board of Commissioners Meeting at 7:00 pm

Transportation Advisory Committee meeting

Board of Commissioners Meeting at 7:00 pm

cultural diversity committee meeting

Biking Down The Bunny Trail

at 10 am

The Great Easter Eggspedition

The Great Easter Eggspedition

The Great Easter Eggspedition

House Hops Easter Bunny Express March 29-31, each day between 9 am and 4 pm

For additional details, please visit: www.matthewsnc.gov/calendar.aspx Town of Matthews Board of Commissioners

Have any questions about the community? Contact us!

Mayor John Higdon mayorhigdon@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner Jeff Miller jmiller@matthewsnc.gov

TOWN HALL

Mayor Pro Tem Renee Garner rgarner@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner John Urban jurban@matthewsnc.gov

PHONE

Commissioner Dave Bland dbland@matthewsnc.gov

Commissioner Larry Whitley lwhitley@matthewsnc.gov

E-MAIL

Commissioner Ken McCool kmccool@matthewsnc.gov

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232 Matthews Station St. | Matthews, NC 28105 (704) 847- 4411 matthews@matthewsnc.gov WEB

www.matthewsnc.gov