Matthews Messenger | April 2021

APRIL — 2021

Volume 3 — Issue 4

Learn more about the return of Outdoor Concerts at Stumptown Park on page 3.

Outdoor Concert Series In this issue...

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Matthews Fire & EMS invites residents to connect 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.

Outdoor Concerts Return to Stumptown Park. Page 3.

MATTHEWSNC.GOV

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

Help us Keep Matthews Beautiful! See page 4.

@MATTHEWSNC

TOWN OF MATTHEWS

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

www.matthewsnc.gov

Matthews Messenger | APRIL 2021

MANAGER’S MESSAGE The start of Spring is a special time here in Matthews. Warmer weather, blossoming plants and trees – always a welcomed sight.

Springtime also means spring cleaning for many people, and that’s true for us as well. Consider joining us for a community clean-up on Saturday, April 17. We’re asking volunteers to gather your friends and neighbors to pick up litter in and around your neighborhood.

We are looking forward to making “Keep Matthews Beautiful” a great success. Read more about this on page 4.

We are looking forward to the first concert in our new Outdoor Concert Series which will take place on Friday, April 9. Our staff has worked very hard to plan these events with safety measures in place. You can read more about this and find out how to purchase tickets on page 2.

The Town Board has voted to designate Veterans Memorial Park within Stumptown Park. As you

may know, this area was recently restored with the help of American Legion Post 235. The Mayor and Town Board voted to rename this area of the park and with the help of a landscape architect, design a beautiful space to complement the restored memorial.

Remember you can watch all of the Town Board meetings live or recorded on our website. You can also access and search past minutes and agendas.

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 Invites Residents to Connect Preparing for emergencies is an important consideration for any family, but particularly a family who may need special considerations. Matthews Fire & EMS uses Community Connect - a free, secure and easy way for residents to provide critical information about their households to first responders.

What type of information should you share?

• Functional needs – such as mobility, Alzheimer’s, visual or hearing impairment, autism.

• Languages spoken within the household.

• Family members - who lives there and how to get in touch during an emergency.

• Pets that live in your home – you can even provide a photo.

These are just a few examples of the information that you may feel is important for emergency response personnel to know in the event of an emergency. We invite you to learn more by visiting the Town of Matthews Community Connect

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Matthews Messenger | APRIL 2021

Outdoor Concerts Return to Stumptown Park April 9

A new Outdoor Concert Series in Stumptown Park is planned for this spring in Matthews.

Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite at www.matthewsfun.com, under Parks & Recreation/Special Events, and will be available two weeks before each concert.

• Seating will be arranged in “pods” throughout the park. Tickets will be sold for 2-person pods and 4-person pods. The pods are 8 feet in diameter, with 6 feet between each.

• Attendees will be asked to practice social distancing at all times and wear masks when not within their pod.

• Food and dessert trucks will be on-site, offering minimum-contact ordering and pickup.

• Attendees should bring blankets and chairs.

• Pets are prohibited per Town ordinance.

Scheduled thus far: • April 9 - Late Night Special Band (tickets on sale March 29-April 9) • April 23 - REO Speedway/Survivor Tribute Band (tickets on sale April 12-April 23) • May 14 - Band of Oz (tickets on sale April 26-May 14) • May 28 - Terrence Young Experience (tickets on sale May 17-May 28) Visit www.matthewsfun.com and click on Special Events for more information.

“While ticketed concerts in Stumptown Park are not what we are used to, our staff is just glad to be able to offer music and some outdoor fun for our residents,” said Special Events Coordinator Lee Anne Moore. “We hope everyone understands that tickets and this new process are the best ways for us to control attendanace, and to keep everyone safe.”

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Matthews Messenger | APRIL 2021

Keep Matthews Beautiful Community Clean-Up The Town of Matthews is seeking volunteers to pick up litter as part of a communitywide clean-up known as “Keep Matthews Beautiful” on Saturday, April 17 from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Grab your family, friends and neighbors and form a group to pick up litter in and around your neighborhood streets, or let us know you are interested in volunteering and we will assign you an area.

The Town of Matthews will provide trash bags, trash pickers, gloves and safety vests for all volunteers (located within the town limits).

Please sign up to volunteer by completing the online form: https://forms.gle/8ijTg6AnmzDhjWjZ6 Questions? Send them to matthews@matthewsnc.gov.

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Matthews Messenger | APRIL 2021

Human Resources Director Named Town Employee of the Year During the March 8 Board of Commissioners meeting, Human Resources Director Tonya McGovern was named Employee of the Year for 2020.

“Tonya is a very dedicated employee who, with great professionalism and expertise, led the way for our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Town Manager Hazen Blodgett. “Tonya worked tirelessly to ensure we were

adhering to changing policies and protocols - all while going above and beyond to keep the health and safety of our employees a top priority. We are grateful for her contributions to the Town and exceptional leadership.”

Tonya has served as the Human Resources Director for the Town of Matthews since 2018.

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Matthews Messenger | APRIL 2021

April 2021 Events Calendar Any questions?

Contact us!

The Great Easter Eggspedition

Outdoor Concert: Late night special band

Board of Commissioners Meeting at 7:00 pm

Matthews Committee on Education Meeting

parks, recreation and cultural resources advisory committee mtg

Transportation Advisory Committee meeting

Keep Matthews Beautiful Community Clean-Up

Outdoor Concert: REO Speedway/ Survivor Tribute Band

Board of Commissioners Meeting at 7:00 pm

Free Shred day

cultural diversity committee meeting

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