Matthews Messenger | November 2019

NOVEMBER — 2019

Volume 1 — Issue 4

In this issue...

2 3 6 7

Now live streaming Town Board meetings on our website Matthews Police Department hosted a successful K-9 training Local business owners learned about available resources at the 2019 Business Summit Learn about the environmental work happening in Matthews

Keep These Messages

On Your Mind

Engage and Connect: Bring your family to holiday events happening the Town of Matthews, including the Holiday Tree Lighting and Gobble Wobble 5K. Learn more about our upcoming events on page 6.

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Matthews Messenger | November 2019

MANAGER’S MESSAGE W

e are thankful for the great things happening in the Town of Matthews this month. We have been actively pursuing environmental safety, hosting a business summit, streaming live Board meetings, and so much more.

T

he Town has been actively pursuing several environmental initiatives. To read more about these initiatives, please visit pages 6 and 7.

T

he town is grateful to all the business owners who attended the 2019 Business Summit, hosted at the Sportsplex in Matthews. You can read more about the Business Summit on page 6.

Town of Matthews Board meetings are now available for live streaming on the town’s website. More information on that on the bottom of this page.

P

lease join us for a Veterans Day ceremony on Monday, November 11 in Stumptown Park. Mayor Bailey will be awarding the Matthews Veteran of the Year. More information is on page 4.

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here’s a full calendar on page 8 of Matthews’ robust events and Board of Commissioners meetings so you can stay involved and engaged in all that Matthews has to offer. We hope you have a great month of November.

T

he next Board of Commissioners meeting will be on November 11.

We are excited to announce that the

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

BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

Now Live Streaming Town Board Meetings

T

T

he Town of Matthews Board he town is continuing efforts to be meetings are now being streamed transparent and accessible with live on the Town’s website. Visit our online streaming and documents. https://www.matthewsnc.gov/ pview.aspx?id=20937&catid=566 to watch the meeting live or replay past meetings. The next Board of Commissioners meeting will be on Monday, November 11 at 7:00 p.m.

Y

ou can access all of the Town Board meeting agendas, minutes and accompanying documents on the Town’s website.

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Matthews Messenger | November 2019

MATTHEWS POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTS K-9 TRAINING Last month, over 40 K-9 handlers and their bloodhounds

works with Tico (Belgium Malinois). Initial basic training for K-9s

came from all over the country - and several that traveled

can take 4-16 weeks and training continues throughout their

internationally from Singapore - to Matthews to participate

career. Most patrol and narcotics dogs come from different

in the four-day training. The K-9’s and their handlers covered

parts of Europe. The bloodhounds are born and bred in the

various tracking scenarios throughout Matthews and the

U.S. ”We usually keep our dogs in service until they’re about

Charlotte area. This annual training is important for all

9-11 years depending on their health,” said Officer Osuch.

agencies involved and the continued development of these amazing K-9’s as well as their human partners.

Officer Osuch, who has been in law enforcement for 23 years, is a Master Trainer and Instructor with the National

The Matthews Police Department Patrol Division is fortunate

Police Bloodhound Association and the United Police Work

to have two K-9 units led by Officer Kevin Osuch and Officer

Dog Association.

Officer Osuch with Benny

Brandon McWhirter.

Officer Osuch has been a K-9 handler with the Matthews Police Department for 15 years. His dogs, Benny (Labrador) and Bo (Bloodhound) are not only certified and highly trained, they also happen to be adorable. Benny is a relative newcomer to the Matthews Police, having just started last year. He is trained for narcotics detection. Bo is trained to track/trail lost people or criminal suspects. Officer Brandon McWhirter

Officer McWhirter with Tico

MATTHEWS FAST FACTS 06

07

40

40,000

The number of

The number of

The number of K-9

The number of Special

performance dates

members appointed

handlers participated

Olympics athletes

for The Nutcracker by

to the Matthews

in K-9 Training with

supported in the

Matthews Ballet and

Appearance/Tree

Matthews Police

Matthews Gobble

Dance. (Page 8)

Committee. (Page 7)

Department. (Page 3)

Wobble 5K. (Page 8)

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Matthews Messenger | November 2019

HOMETOWN HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS There’s no place like Matthews for celebrating the holiday season!

Don’t forget these special events that take place in December.

• The Nutcracker Ballet - performances Nov. 30 - Dec. 1 and Dec. 7-8.

Tickets available at www.matthewsfun.com.

• Gingerbread House Contest & Display - Enter Dec. 2 - 6 at the Matthews Chamber of Commerce. Judging on Dec. 7th. Info at www. matthewschamber.org.

• Downtown Matthews Holiday Stroll - Dec. 7 from 3-7 PM. Visit downtown merchants for shopping and special treats. New this year - the Matthews Farmers Market will host a holiday marketplace during the stroll.

• Hometown Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting - Dec. 7 from 3-6 PM. Train rides, live entertainment, Santa photos and the lighting of the tree on the Town Green.

• It’s a Wonderful Life at the Matthews Playhouse - Dec. 13-22 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday shows). Tickets available at www.matthewsplayhouse. com.

• Menorah Lighting Ceremony: Stay tuned to www.matthewsnc.gov for more details on this event!

VETERANS DAY CEREMONY Please join Mayor Paul Bailey, the Matthews

held on Monday, November

Board of Commissioners and members of

11 at 11:00 AM in Stumptown

Matthews American Legion Post 235 for a

Park. Mayor Bailey will also

special ceremony to recognize and celebrate

award the Matthews Veteran

those who have served. The ceremony will be

of the Year.

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Matthews Messenger | November 2019

2019 BUSINESS SUMMIT

B

usiness owners of Matthews attended the

business community. “Matthews is an appealing

Economic Development Advisory Committee

place to live and we have a growing creative

(EDAC) 2019 Business Summit last month at the

class of entrepreneurs and successful business

Sportsplex. The theme was Matthews Rising:

owners here,” says Matthews Mayor Paul

Building Community = Supporting Business.

Bailey. “We have every reason to expect that

Attendees learned about resources available to

growth to continue because more people

help them grow or sustain their business, as well

are discovering the appeal of Matthews.”

as how Matthews works to create a welcoming

Attendees heard from a panel of business experts about resources available for small businesses.

Moderated by EDAC member Randy Mitchell

Charlotte Agenda reporter Katie Peralta interviews Peter Zeiler, Mecklenburg County Economic Development Director

Reminders about crosswalk safety As a friendly reminder, drivers must yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks.

According to the North Carolina General Statute 20-173, if there are mid-block crosswalks with no traffic signs, then the driver must yield. Please slow down and use caution when driving through crosswalks.

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Matthews Messenger | November 2019

MATTHEWS TAKES STEPS TO HELP PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

T

he Town Board recently voted to expand the

preservation program. Residents and businesses are

ban on harmful sealants that contain Polycyclic

also required to adhere to these requirements and

Aromatic

Hydrocarbons

(PAHs),

a

carcinogen

identified by the National Cancer Institute. Matthews was the first municipality in North Carolina to ban harmful coal-tar sealants containing PAHs in 2018.

cannot use sealants that contain PAHs.

A

nother recent effort is the removal of invasive plants throughout the Town. The Matthews

Since the ban was implemented, new non-coal

Appearance and Tree Advisory Committee holds

tar sealants were brought to the market that still

regular Community Clean Up events to remove

contain high levels of PAHs. These PAHs can easily

invasive plants and clean up our parks and

get into waterways and are harmful to aquatic

greenways.

life. A more environmentally friendly alternative to these sealants are asphalt-based sealants that do not contain PAHs. The Town of Matthews uses sealants that do not contain PAHs in the pavement

Community members help clean up invasive plants at Squirrel Lake Park

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Matthews Messenger | November 2019

HOW CAN I HELP? 4 WAYS TO HELP PROTECT MATTHEWS’ ENVIRONMENT Stick to Native Plants and Trees in your yard: Invasive species (non-native plants and trees) are harmful to native plants and trees, stifling their growth or killing them. The Town Board recently removed several invasives from the list. You can see the full list in Section 606 of the Town’s Unified Development Ordinance: https://www.matthewsnc.gov/pview.aspx?id=20754&catid=567

Help clean up the community: The Matthews Appearance and Tree Advisory Committee works to make Matthews a cleaner, greener, and more aesthetically pleasing community. This committee holds regular “Community Clean Up” days to help remove invasive plants and clean up our parks. They recently held a community weed pull in Squirrel Lake Park. Stay tuned for details on future clean ups.

Plan a pollinator garden: Did you know Matthews is a “Bee City”? That means we do our part to promote wise conservation stewardship, including the protection of pollinators and maintenance of their habitats. Consider planting a pollinator garden in your yard!

Recycle Right: Recycling rules in Mecklenburg County have changed recently. Refresh your knowledge of how to properly recycle. You can find a list of recyclable and non-recyclable items at https://tinyurl.com/yxgcp8aa, or check out our article in the August issue of the Matthews Messenger at https://tinyurl.com/yyjqcmpc.

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Matthews Messenger | November 2019

November Events Calendar What’s Happening in Matthews this month? Learn more at www.matthewsnc.gov/calendar

Meet with the mayor at 8:00 am Miki’s Restaurant Crews Family Fun Night, 6-9 PM Crews Rec Center

Date Night Drop Off from 5-9 PM Crews Rec Center

Pawsitively matthews from 10am - 4pm Stumptown Park

Gobble wobble 5k race, 7-11 am Col. Francis Beatty Park

Veterans Day ceremony at 11am Stumptown Park Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

Car Seat Checking station, 8-11:30AM Matthews Police Dept.

Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

The NUTCRACKER BALLET AT 2PM & 7PM Matthews

Car Seat Checking station, 8-11:30AM

Community Center

Matthews Police Dept.

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Sugar Plum party at 4:15PM Matthews Community Center

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Small Business Saturday

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6cREWS FAMILY FUN NIGHT AT 6PM Crews Rec Center

The Nutcracker ballet at 3pm Matthews Community Center

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Holiday Downtown Stroll from 3-7 pm Downtown Matthews

Hometown Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration AT 3PM Town Green Park

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

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