Matthews Messenger | August 2019

AUGUST — 2019

Volume 1 — Issue 1

KEEP THESE MESSAGES ON YOUR MIND! WHAT’S going on in matthews

In this issue...

2 3 4 5

Town Manager’s Message and FY19-20 Budget Update What do you Love about Matthews?

Mecklenburg County’s new recycling guidelines: everything you need to know Matthews Alive! Parade and Festival, the largest Southeast Labor Day parade

Matthews 101 - Want to learn more about the town? Apply for our hands-on civic learning program at www.matthewsnc.gov by August 26!

“Matthews Finest Fido” Photo Contest - Presented

by Williams Subaru, in conjunction with our Pawsitively Matthews event hosted in November.

Visit www.matthewsnc.gov to stay in the know!

MATTHEWSNC.GOV

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

@MATTHEWSNC

TOWN OF MATTHEWS

@TOWNOFMATTHEWS

Matthews Messenger | August 2019

MANAGER’S MESSAGE

T

he Town of Matthews has had a great summer. From summer programming and camps to annual town budget discussions, Matthews residents and visitors have been busy enjoying all the town has to offer while the leadership team makes sure Town Hall is running smoothly. The Board of Commissioners adopted the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget on June 10th. You can read highlights from the newly adopted budget on page 2.

A

s families get ready for back to school season, events and programming in Matthews are only getting better. Summer camps organized by our Parks & Recreation team have been running strong all summer, and there are still some openings for kids to enjoy the whole

month of August. See all that’s available on page 4.

F

inally, we’re rounding out the summer with our annual Matthews Alive! Labor Day weekend event. Events like these bring our community together while sharing Matthews’ wonderful traditions with visitors from all over the greater Charlotte area. To learn more about the Matthews Alive!

Parade & Festival, visit page 5.

There’s a full calendar on page 3 of Matthews’ robust events and Board of Commissioners meetings so you can stay involved and engaged in all that Matthews has to offer.

W

e hope you and your families enjoy the rest of the summer in Matthews!

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

BECKY HAWKE ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER BHAWKE@MATTHEWSNC.GOV

FY19-20 Budget UPDATES

O

Presented and Approved

n June 10th, The

With a 2.95% increase, the

Other additions to the budget

Mayor and Board

budget is $25,640,229. The tax

are six new positions for the

of Commissioners

rate for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 is

Matthews Police Department

.28 cents per $100 valuation.

and full funding for the

approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020,

2

Matthews Fire & EMS 24-hour

presented by the Town

Matthew’s Town Manager,

staffing model.

Manager. The Town of

Hazen Blodgett, outlined sev-

Matthews’ budget consists

eral challenges in this year’s

More information and all

of their estimated proposed

budget. There were increased

budget documents can be

expenditures, which finance

costs in several areas, includ-

found on the town’s website:

the goals and objectives for

ing retirement contributions,

www.matthewsnc.gov/

the fiscal year (July 1 - June

solid waste fees, and insur-

finance.

30).

ance.

Matthews Messenger | August 2019

LOVE MATTHEWS CAMPAIGN | JULY 26 - AUGUST 23 Love where you live!

Learn more at www.lovematthews.com.

LOV E M AT T H E W S Love Matthews, a four-week campaign to celebrate everything we love about Matthews, launched on Friday, July 26th.

Each week, the Town of Matthews will have a different theme to bring together the community, including The Great Outdoors, Art & Culture, and Why We Serve. There will be social media contests, giveaways, and special events throughout the month. Join us for a free Community Yoga Class in Stumptown Park on August 2nd and a Rock Painting Party in Squirrel Lake Park on August 13th.

Come out to Stumptown Park on August 17th for our Touch-A-Truck event from 10 AM-1 PM that will feature trucks and equipment from Matthews Fire & EMS, Police Department, and Public Works Department.

There will also be a K-9 demonstration and Special Response Team display!

Be sure to follow and tag us on our social media platforms (@townofmatthews) for a chance to be featured and stay up to date on all events.

MATTHEWS FAST FACTS $25M

150K

$1.6M

100

The total budget

Average number

Proceeds donated

Average Matthews

proposed and

of Matthews Alive!

to nonprofits from

Alive! parade

adopted for the Town

attendees every year

Matthews Alive! over

participants each

of Matthews (pg. 2)

(pg. 5)

the event’s history

year (pg. 5)

(pg. 5) 3

Matthews Messenger | August 2019

MATTHEWS RECYCLING GUIDELINES There have been recent changes to the Matthews recycling guidelines.

Mecklenburg County will now only accept plastic bottles with necks, such as water bottles, detergent bottles and milk jugs. They will no longer accept “open top” plastic containers, such as yogurt containers, pill bottles, etc.

IF IT’S NOT LISTED IN THE GREEN CIRCLE BELOW, DO NOT RECYCLE IT IN YOUR CURBSIDE RECYCLING BIN!

They will also no longer accept rigid plastic toys. These items will still be accepted at Mecklenburg County Full Service Centers, just not accepted in curbside recycling bins.

Please remember that plastic bags are not accepted! Please do not put them in your recycling bin, nor use them to bag your recyclables. Instead, you can recycle them at most grocery stores, or use reusable shopping bags to decrease overall waste.

To see which items are recyclable, visit https://tinyurl.com/yxgcp8aa for a full guide and reference materials for which items are accepted. You can also reach out to Mecklenburg County LUESA at 980-314-3867 with additional questions.

MATTHEWS POLICE OFFICER NAMED 2019 SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OF THE YEAR Congratulations to our own Officer Calvin Young for receiving the 2019 C.C. McGee, North Carolina, School Resource Officer of the year award for his continued leadership and commitment to Butler High School and staff. His actions on October 29, 2018, during a shooting in the halls of Butler H.S., was nothing less than heroic. Thank you for your 20+ years as an SRO and your commitment to your student’s safety and education. This award is well deserved.

4

Matthews Messenger | August 2019

MATTHEWS ALIVE! PARADE AND FESTIVAL

M

atthews Alive! Parade and Festival, the largest Labor Day parade in the Southeast, will be held Friday, August 30th through Monday, September 2nd. The weekend celebration gives 100% of the proceeds to benefit Matthews’ community of non-profits.

The Matthews Alive Festival is celebrating its 27th year with several special elements for attendees to enjoy. Novant Health – Matthews Medical Center returns as festival Presenting Sponsor again this year.

At the event, there will be three stages of free entertainment, great food, rides and games, arts and crafts, carnival style activities, and indoor art shows and exhibits. With four days of family fun, there is something for everyone at the celebration!

Labor Day Weekend Aug 30 - Sept 2 www.matthewsalive.org

Classic and rockin’ country music fans will love the main stage on Sunday, September 1st, with Lonestar headlining at 8:30 PM.

All concerts are free. Some Kids Connection attractions require purchase. Carnival rides and kids’ inflatable games require tickets.

This annual tradition encompasses small town life and brings community together for a family fun event for people of all ages- all for a great cause!

For more information and complete schedule including entertainment lineup, please visit www.matthewsalive.org.

PA R A D E D I R EC T I O N S The parade starts on Saturday, August 31, at 9:30 AM and finishes at 11:00 AM - just in time for lunch!

The parade begins on Matthews-Mint Hill Road, at McLeod Street. It moves forward to Trade Street, turns left (at Kristopher’s restaurant), continues straight through downtown Matthews on Trade Street, through the Festival, and concludes at Matthews United Methodist Church.

For the safety of every patron, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. No pets are allowed, but service animals are welcomed. No alcohol will be sold at the Matthews Alive Festival and any outside alcohol is prohibited.

Bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, or wheeled recreational items of any kind are prohibited.

5

Matthews Messenger | August 2019

August Events Calendar What’s Happening in Matthews this month!

Learn more at www.matthewsnc.gov/calendar

FIRST THURSDAY at 5:00 PM Downtown Matthews

Board of National night Out Car Seat Checking Commissioners at 6:00 PM station at 8:00 AM Meeting at 7:00 PM Town Green Matthews Police Dept.

Town Hall

FREE COMMUNITY YOGA at 9:00 AM Stumptown Park

Food Truck Friday at 5:00 PM Stumptown Park date night drop-off 5:00 PM Crews Rec. Center

Rock Painting Party at 10:00 AM Squirrel Lake Park

Touch-a-truck at 10:00 AM Stumptown Park

Car Seat Checking station at 8:00 AM Matthews Police Dept.

Board of Commissioners Meeting Town Hall

Food Truck Friday at 5:00 PM Stumptown Park

Coffee with a commissioner at 10:00 AM Brakeman’s Coffee

Matthews Alive from 6-10 PM Downtown Matthews

Matthews Alive from 10 AM-10 PM Downtown Matthews

Matthews Alive from 1 PM - 10 PM Downtown Matthews

Matthews Alive from 9 am-5 pm Downtown Matthews

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