Union County Weekly

Vol. 10 No. 47

November 20, 2015 www.unioncountyweekly.com

Millennial Trap ki

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Waxhaw town leaders discuss creating a Millennial “task force” as part of a series of economic development strategies to attract younger demographics and expand the town’s tax base.

Page 4 Thanksgiving events guide Looking for a new tradition for your family? We have our annual Thanksgiving events guide with celebrations and services around the area.

Page 4

Warrior soccer to states

Christmas spirit in Indian Trail

Weddington boys soccer team earned a convincing 3-0 win over Asheville to advance to the state championship game on Saturday at N.C. State.

Page 17

An Indian Trail couple will hold their annual holiday light show, featuring more than 15,000 LED lights, while raising money for cancer research.

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News Briefs 6 | Opinion 7 | Crime Blotter 8 | Education 11 | Faith 13 | Calendar 15 | Sports 16 | Classifieds 19

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The Weekly

Business Briefs Local Edward Jones office supports Toys for Tots STALLINGS – Keith Ross, a local Edward Jones financial advisor, is supporting the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program during the holiday season by using his office as a drop-off location for this year’s toy drive.

“With the holiday season around the corner, we are all getting ready for the festivities,” Ross said in a news release. “And, as this is the season of giving, now is a great time to remember the less fortunate in our community.”

Community members can contribute to the cause by taking new, unwrapped toys to Ross’s office, at 7800-C Stevens Mill Road in the Stevens Mill Shopping Center. Ross will collect donations during normal business hours Monday to Friday through Dec. 17. Call the office at 704-882-2624 for more information.

Edward Jones is a Fortune 500 company that provides financial services for individual investors across the U.S. and Canada. Find more information on the company at www. edwardjones.com.

Chamber announces finalists for ‘Excellence in Business’ MONROE – The Union County Chamber of Commerce recently announced the finalists for the 2015 Excellence in Business Awards.

Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 3 The Excellence in Business Award, which recognizes businesses that have attained significant growth, offered quality customer services, achieved overall excellence in the marketplace and made meaningful community contributions, according to a news release. The award is divided into three subcategories: Excellence in Small Business, open to companies with 20 or fewer employees; Excellence in Business Award, for companies with 21 to 100 employees; and Excellence in Business, open to companies with 100 or more employees.

Finalists in their respective categories include: • Excellence in Small Business – Carolinas Chiropractic & Spinal Rehab; Monroe Broadcasting Inc./WIXE; Spivey Insurance Group • Excellence in Business Award – Enterprise Fitness & Personal Training Center; Kate Clyde’s Catered Creations; Mario’s Italian Restaurant/John’s Place • Excellence in Business – GM Nameplate, NC Division; Ludwig Industries; Windsor Windows & Doors There also will be a Rising Star Award, which recognizes a high-performing company that’s three years old or younger. Finalists are: Bradley Real Estate and Development/HCB Construction; Café Bliss; and Foster Grace Insurance Agency.

The awards will be presented at the Chambers annual gala on Dec. 3, a Thursday, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Union County Agricultural Center, located at 3230 Presson Road in Monroe.

The chamber also will present awards for Employer of Choice, Community Impact and Lifetime Achievement. Call 704-289-4567 or visit www.unioncountycoc.com for more information.

Lights display to fight cancer

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

INDIAN TRAIL – Pete Kimbell and his wife, Sherri, started the Garden Oak Holiday Lights show in 2012 at their home to bring the community together while supporting a cause. Several hundred cars came to see the show that year.

Now in its fourth year, the show is expected to attract more than 1,000 cars and plans to be bigger and better than ever.

“This year, we’re going to be using volunteers on the busiest nights to help (direct traffic),” Pete Kimbell said. “... We want those coming to enjoy the season, to enjoy the display this year.”

The show will feature more than 15,000 red, green and blue (RGB) LED lights – 10 times what was featured in 2012 – and thousands of additional traditional lights. The lights sync to music, which plays on 94.5 FM. Christmas comes early each year for Kimbells, who start hanging the lights as early as September. Kimbell said it’s worth the hard work to bring holiday cheer to the community. But that’s not all he accomplishes through the show – visitors each year are asked to consider donating to the National Foundation for Cancer Research.

Kimbell has a personal connection with the foundation. His 81-year-old mother is a four-year pancreatic cancer survivor. The disease has one of the lowest survival rates among all cancers, and Kimbell attributes his mother’s health to the success of her treatments, which the foundation had a hand in developing, he said.

“It all has to do with the medication that she’s on; the National Foundation for Cancer Research contributed to the development of those medications,” Kimbell said.

Photo courtesy of Pete Kimbell

The Garden Oak Holiday Lights show has raised more than $4,500 for the foundation since its inception – more than $2,700 of which was raised last year.

Kimbell isn’t setting a goal this year – he simply believes once people visit and enjoy the show, the money will start coming in.

“If we can make what we (raised) last year, that is great,” he said. “I know the money is going to come in.”

Want to go?

The Garden Oak Holiday Lights show takes place at 4026 Garden Oak Drive, in the Brandon Oak subdivision.

The show will run nightly from Nov. 28 to Jan. 1. Show times are every 20 minutes from 6 to 9 p.m. on school nights and 6 to 10 p.m. on non-school nights.

Tune into 94.5 FM for the show’s soundtrack.

One-hundred percent of donations will benefit the National Foundation for Cancer Research.

Find more information at www. goholidaylights.com or www.facebook.com/ goholidaylights.

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Millennial Trap

www.unioncountyweekly.com

Old railroad town seeking younger residents

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

ate an inventory of developable land and market it to potential clients.

Waxhaw is giving a considerable look to downtown, working with consultants to develop a parking study and a streetscaping plan that emphasizes walkability.

Waxhaw is seeking a matching grant through the Charlotte Area Regional Transportation Organization for up to $1 million to make its downtown more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly.

“When we make improvements to downtown, let’s think about what Millennials are looking for and how we might enhance downtown in a way that attracts that demographic,” Wood told commissioners Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The town wants to work with a consultant to identify opportunities for retail in the area.

WAXHAW – Waxhaw, a rustic 126-year-old town named after Native Americans and proud of its rich railroad history, hopes to secure its future by attracting Millennials.

Town leaders have discussed creating a Millennial task force in recent months as part of a series of economic development strategies designed to expand the suburb’s tax base.

“That’s a demographic that we don’t have,” Town Manager Warren Wood said. “What is it that we are missing that will allow us to attract Millennials to Waxhaw?”

Millennials, the generation born between 1980 and 1995, consist of 32 percent of homeDid you know? buyers, according to The NaResidents not tional Association of Realtors’ Forbes Magazine ranked Charlotte as the 18th Home Buyer and Seller Generareceptive to recent Best City for Millennials tional Trends Report 2015. moves in 2014, pinpointing Third They consider factors such as Ward as the best neighPerhaps the biggest obstacles affordability and convenience to borhood. to welcoming Millennials are their jobs when buying homes, their older peers. and tend to live in those homes Waxhaw residents have been for 10 years. When they do move on, they stay critical of recent rezoning requests, such as an within 10 miles of their previous homes. apartment complex in downtown and a gas staProvidence, Rhode Island launched a similar tion near the Cureton subdivision. They worry task force over the summer. The group promotes that these project don’t fit the town’s character or social activities and civic engagement on Facecharm. book, Twitter and Instagram as “Live Work Play Earl Cook, of the Waxhaw Business AssociaPVD.” tion, sees the potential of multi-family housing Waxhaw has worked to increase engagement meeting several underserved markets in town, of Millennials through social media, posting news including seniors, singles, young families and and events on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Millennials.

YouTube. Followers who correctly guess land“This whole multi-family unit issue is not one marks in Instagram photos in the town’s “Where about just appearance,” he said. “It’s one about am I in Waxhaw?” contest are entered into feeling and attitude. To me, it’s more a challenge monthly drawings. of our social consciousness than a challenge to our But the town is looking to make a much more form-based code.” significant investment by improving its downHe sees multi-family homes carrying a stigma town and attracting development that could lure of “those people.” younger residents.

Resistance to multi-family housing isn’t excluAttracting Millennials is really about appealing sive to Waxhaw. to more people, according to Mayor-elect StePockets of suburban Charlotte are beginning phen Maher. to attract redevelopment projects that promote “We absolutely have to appeal to all age the live-work- play mantra. Projects under degroups,” Maher said. “That’s just makes good velopment, such as Waverly at Providence and business sense. It will impact the types of busiArdrey Kell roads in Charlotte, are designed to nesses that want to locate for the better.” allow residents to walk to their dining and shopping destinations.

Downtown improvements The only downside is they are developed in already congested areas. could provide key in search David Weekley Homes recently submitted site Brian Leary, president of commercial and mixed use for Crescent Communities, recently plans to develop 68 townhomes and 27 singletold an audience at the Levine Museum of the family homes on 15 acres off North Community New South that Millennials are spending more House Road in Ballantyne. Residents in neighof their earnings on dining, music and tourism boring subdivisions say they can barely get out of than previous generations. They also are drawn to their neighborhoods during rush hour as traffic stands now. more walkable urban areas.

Eric Howard, president of the homeowners asMost of Waxhaw’s revenue comes from propsociation at The Vineyard in Ballantyne, considers erty taxes generated from single-family homes.

“The single-family residential development is housing projects designed to attract Millennials.

Howard wonders where Millennials will live great, but we need different types of development in town that we aren’t or haven’t been seeing in 20 years from now.

“They’ll move to country and want to start a the last few years,” Wood said.

The town is preparing a new comprehensive family and have a front and back yard,” Howard plan designed to guide how land will be devel- said of Millennials. “My concern is that this is an oped over the next 25 years. Waxhaw also will cre- immediate reaction.”

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The Weekly

Community Spotlight

Indian Trail resident Annie Beth Donahue and her husband, Brad, started the nonprofit Signposts Ministries five years ago to provide support to area families caring for children with special needs. Find more information at www.signpostsministries.org.

What inspired you to start Signposts Ministries?

First, God set the stage by giving me four children – all with special health needs … Given the variety of problems we’ve had, I found that I was able to meet Annie Beth Donahue almost anyone else in the special needs world and have at least one thing in common with them … I also found that quite a few families didn’t have any support or know any other parents that were experiencing the same challenges. Signposts Ministries was started to share hope and encouragement with families that are living with a special need.

Tell us a little about the organization.

We are made up of parents of children with disabilities or chronic health needs; community members who are passionate about advocating for

Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 5 the disabled; and people of faith who want to live out our calling to love others. While we are a faithbased organization, we desire to serve any child or family who is in need of our service … Food allergies, mental health diagnoses, physical disabilities, cancer, autism spectrum disorders – we reach out to all these communities.

How has Signposts grown since its inception?

Each year, we have continued to increase the number of families we work with. We have also increased the number of volunteers and community members that are aware of our work … We have six main programs and we are about to add a seventh next year.

How can the community help the nonprofit?

We can use donors and volunteers to support all of our programs.

(See Donahue’s list of local programs at www. unioncountyweekly.com.)

What’s an interesting fact related to Signposts most people might not know?

While we have paid people for contract work or part-time work, Signposts Ministries does not currently have any full-time paid employees. While we think it would be amazing to have a full-time employee, because it would give us the ability to serve more families, we are also glad that donors can see that we have kept our administrative costs to a minimum so as to maximize the amount we can use directly on families.

The Weekly

Development Briefs Townhomes coming to Stallings STALLINGS – Plans for 95 townhomes are moving forward despite concerns from residents that the increased density could affect traffic, school enrollment and property values.

Stallings Town Council voted 3-2 to allow Liquid Development and The Moser Group to build the project at 11 acres on the north side of Old Monroe Road, east of the Morningside subdivision.

Town staff and the planning board recommended the council deny the request, because it didn’t fit with the Stallings Land Use Plan, which calls for traditional homes with up to three units per acre.

Councilmembers Deborah Romanow, David Scholl and Shawna Steele approved the project.

Romanow told the community that the council took everything they said into consideration.

“Sometimes we don’t make decisions that make you happy but we have to think of it in terms of the whole town,” Romanow said.

Mayor Wyatt Dunn didn’t get to vote, but he, too, had concerns about density. He’d prefer to see single-family development that maintains the town’s high quality of life.

Town Planner Lynne Hair said the development would provide a good transition between the nearby single-family homes and the commercial and high density that could come with the future widening of Old Monroe Road.

Rezoning receives resistance from Waxhaw WAXHAW – Some residents were admittedly skeptical heading into a public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 10, about rezoning on 61 acres of residential land at 8101 Old Waxhaw-Monroe Road.

The developer expressed interest in building three soccer fields on 10 of those acres, but could potentially abandon those plans and move forward in with commercial use up to 5,000 square feet with the proposed Office Institutional and Specialty designation.

But after Marvin resident David Broxton spoke about the need for more soccer fields, a couple of residents were supportive of his request.

If the town approves the rezoning, Broxton will have to return for a conditional-use permit for the fields.

Town staff told commissioners that the rezoning didn’t fit with the rural residential nature outlined in the land-use plan but fits with a land-use plan draft being developed.

Ray Butler, president of the Old Stone Forest homeowners association, said he’d rather see the land retain its rural residential and agricultural uses.

Ryland Homes to build 40home subdivision in Stallings STALLINGS – Ryland Homes is bringing a 40home subdivision on 16.95 acres to the south side of Pleasant Plains Road, across from the Morningwood Drive.

The town council approved the rezoning request Monday, Nov. 9, with a few conditions, including connectivity to Drummond Drive in the form of a breakaway gate for emergency vehicles.

The vacant land that is surrounded by the Callonwood subdivision, Arlington Downs townhomes, Pleasant Plains Baptist Church and a proposed daycare.

About 20 people attended the community meeting on Sept. 23 with concerns about how the project would affect traffic, water pressure, school

enrollment and property values.

Stallings prohibits parking on sidewalks effective immediately STALLINGS – The town council approved an ordinance Monday, Nov. 9, prohibiting parking on sidewalks.

Violators have 15 calendar days to pay $25 parking tickets or receive a $25 late fee.

“This is something that’s not been a problem in the town,” Town Planner Lynne Hair said. “This is something with all the new sidewalks coming in to make sure it doesn’t become one.”

Wesley Chapel Council changes land-use plan WESLEY CHAPEL – The Wesley Chapel Village Council held a public hearing and several votes Monday, Nov. 9, on changes to its land-use plan.

Bill Dustin, planning and zoning administrator, described the land-use plan as a guide. The plan, consisting of a color-coded map and text, gives people an idea of what they can do with their property.

“Anytime there’s a zoning change, the council and planning board have to adopt a statement of consistency,” Dustin said. “How consistent is the proposed change with the plan. You’re not married to the plan. You can go against the plan, but you need to give a good reason why.”

Town resists selling land WESLEY CHAPEL – The village continues to get offers for 2.63 acres it owns near the Shops at Wesley Chapel.

David Pohorence, owner of Anytime Fitness, offered $220,000 for the land in hopes of expanding his business there. He sought to open a 7,000square-foot gym in March 2017.

The village didn’t make any intentions of selling the land, opting to want to use the property for a future use like a recreational amenity.

“We don’t have a big bucket of money to buy more land with,” Becky Plyler said, noting she doesn’t think the village should sell the land.

Councilmember Jeannine Kenary said the village received the land for recreational purposes in the first place.

Firms form in county The following is a listing of new corporations filed by registered agents with the N.C. Secretary of State from Nov. 6 to 12 by town: Indian Trail • B K Endeavors LLC – Susan Hinson, 3933 Old Monroe Road.

• Done Rite Heating & Cooling Inc. – James Bean, 9313 Mill Grove Road.

• Integrated Behavioral Health Management Inc. – Maryann Richardson, 6502 Margaret Court.

• Superior Floors LLC – Barbara Barreto, 3913 Etheredge St. Monroe • Advanced Crop Solutions LLC – Charlie Baucom, 1101 Circle Drive.

• B.K. Jones & Co. LLC – Byron Jones, 314 N Hayne St. • Jordan Business Services Inc. – Crystal Jordan, 622 West Roosevelt Blvd. suite E. • Red Barchetta Trucking LLC – K. Stankiewicz, 6310 Little Road.

• R & S Best Logistics Inc – Antonio Radillo, 2515 Nelda Drive.

• Simply Sprayfoam LLC – Julian Garrett, 3201 Reid Circle.

Waxhaw • HPA Real Estate LLC – Douglas Petho, 9121 Moarchos Court.

• Legacy Pools LLC – Kristin Black, 1310 Mallory Lane.

• SUBHAD LLC – Sudhakar Vetcha, 2803 Julian Glen Circle.

WWW.MATTHEWSMINTHILLWEEKLY.COM

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Page 6 | November 20, 2015 | Union County Weekly

The Weekly

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10100 Park Cedar Drive, Suite 154 Charlotte, NC 28210 Phone: 704-849-2261 • Fax: 704-849-2504 www.unioncountyweekly.com

Editorial

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Managing Editor Hannah Chronis Business Editor Josh Whitener Education Editor Courtney Schultz Development Editor Justin Vick Sports editor Ben Doster Faith Columnist Tony Marciano

Advertising Charlotte Conway Adrian Garson Andrea Mounts

Business Publisher Jonathan McElvy Associate Publisher Frank Vasquez Business Manager Brent Epling

Design Art Director Maria Hernandez Layout Editor Erin Kirby

News Briefs Libertarian Party to meet Nov. 24 WESLEY CHAPEL – The Libertarian Party of Union County will meet Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at 201 Central CafÊ in Wesley Chapel, located at 5939 Weddington Road.

Guests are invited to come discuss libertarian solutions to local, state and federal issues.

Snacks will be provided.

Amazing Grace Lutheran holds ‘ThankQue Barbecue’ WAXHAW – Amazing Grace Lutheran Church held a “ThankQue Barbecue� on Nov. 8 to honor Waxhaw’s fire, police and EMS staff and their families.

Members and volunteers from the church served a barbecue meal to 40 people and provided entertainment, crafts and prizes for kids. “The members of our congregation who served at this event were deeply honored to have this opportunity to say thank you to those that serve our community,� said church member Brian Jones. “Each of us were blessed to have spent time with every firefighter, police offer and family member that attended in order to get to know them a little better, say ‘thank you’ and express our deep gratitude for their service.�

Amazing Grace Lutheran is located at 406 W. Main St.

Advertising: adsales@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Letters to the Editor: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Press Releases: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Union County Weekly is published by Charlotte Media Group. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

Photos courtesy of Jim Black

The Nutcracker

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Marvin to hold flagpole dedication ceremony MARVIN – Marvin will hold a flagpole dedication ceremony on Monday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. at Village Hall to celebrate the new flagpole placed in honor and memory of longtime Marvin volunteer Gordan SuhrÊ, who died in May. The flagpole was donated to the town by the Epps family to honor SuhrÊ’s service as mayor and councilmember.

SuhrĂŠ begin his service as a councilmember in 1993 and was elected mayor in 1995.

He served as mayor and mayor pro tem until 2005. SuhrÊ’s wife Linda, son Chris, and granddaughters Caroline and Victoria will attend the ceremony.

Volunteer work day at Dogwood WESLEY CHAPEL – The next volunteer work day at Dogwood Park will take place Saturday, Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteer opportunities are available for all ages, and students can sign off on volunteer hours. All volunteers must sign a waiver, and parents must sign for children 18 years old and younger. Â

Weddington High School students hold shoe drive WEDDINGTON – Union County residents are encouraged to drop off a pair of new or gently used shoes at Weddington High School or Wesley Chapel Weddington Athletic Association as a part of Weddington’s shoe drive.

Shoes will be donated to Shoeman Water, an nonprofit which collected donated shoes and sells them at a low cost to individuals in need in Latin America. The money collected from the shoe sales is used to fund water projects, such as well drilling rigs, water purifications and hygiene training, in surrounding communities.

Weddington seniors Emily Clinton and Elizabeth Staude, organizers of the shoe drive, hope to collect 1,500 shoes. Shoes of all types and sizes will be accepted. The drive runs through Dec. 10.

Email shoedrive1@gmail.com or call 704981-1533 for more information on the shoe drive. Visit www.shoemanwater.org for more information on Shoeman Water.

The Weekly

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, I was disappointed to hear the news that Joe Fivas was resigning as town manager in Indian Trail. He has worked very hard to improve our town, and I worry about what will happen now with all the great road and park projects he helped push forward. It's a shame that a man can be ostracized for trying to make Indian Trail a better place.

What was accomplished in the last five years will go a long way toward a better future for Indian Trail, and I thank Joe Fivas for his efforts in the face of adversity and wish him the best.

The other side of this coin is the continued embarrassment Indian Trail faces at the hands of our mayor and pro tem. I cringe every time I open the paper, because I know there will be another bout of verbal diarrhea from one or both of them that makes future job candidates (and a new town manager) afraid to even step across town limits. Gentlemen, please Google the meaning of "professionalism" when you get the chance. Tommy Lawrence Indian Trail

We want to hear your opinion!

Union County Weekly values the opinions and insights of our readers. Send your letters to the editor to hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com.

Letters must not exceed 300 words and we reserve the right to edit letters for clarity.

Letters to the editor do not represent the views of Union County Weekly.

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Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 7

Opinion

Enjoy those foreign objects in your home

by Jonathan McElvy jonathan@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

According to Amazon – you know, that jungle of a bookstore – there are precisely 71,069 books on parenting and parenting activities available for purchase.

Do you have any idea what this means? Good, I’ll tell you. It means that if one parenting book were written every week Jonathan McElvy all the way up to this very week of November 2015, the first book would have been penned in 648 A.D. And do you know what was happening in 648 A.D.? Good, me neither. I don’t even think they had spell-check back then.

For those of you new to my column, I like to step away from writing boring, non-controversial opinions once every few months and tell you stories about my now 2-year-old son Hank. Actually, what I really tell you are stories about my futile attempt to be a parent, only because my psychologist would have me believe I am not alone in this battle – you know, if I actually went to a psychologist. (There are 206,743 books on psychology and counseling available on

Amazon, which probably means none of us have any business raising children.)

So while all you young, inexperienced parents out there are wasting your vacation funds on self-help literature, I thought it might be nice if I threw a little free knowledge your way about the First Four Stages of Your Child’s Life – available on Amazon probably never.

Stage 1 happens when you arrive home from the hospital. It is the porcelain doll that is scrubbed with Q-tips, eats directly from mom and is wrapped in a piece of cloth that you wash with a detergent only available at stores that have parking spaces for electric cars. In other words, this is the delicate stage and fathers are usually relegated to observatory status.

A few months later, Stage 2 hits with a whimper. Mom still wraps the child in cellophane but, day by day, the child becomes more mobile in the sense that his body parts begin to move in electrocuted fashion.

For fathers, Stage 2 is much like Stage 1, mainly because your shiny, new son still can’t hit a 7-iron and you don’t know what to do with him otherwise. So you watch as the boy’s fingers begin to work, his legs start pushing across the floor, his crying decibels increase, solid foods are introduced and that precious, porcelain son of yours – in all his beauty – begins to fidget, feed and look you in the eyes to tell you he needs a new toy to chew. And so every time you walk through the grocery store, you buy a

new toy, only to realize three months later that you were shopping on the Pet aisle.

Stage 3 gets fun because two significant, though causal, things have happened. First, your child has learned to walk. Second, your home has been invaded by foreign objects.

While you might not think those two phenomena are related, you would be greatly mistaken. Ever wonder why the accounting firm of Mattel, Hasbro & Lego rakes in revenues of $14.8 BILLION every single year? It’s because children learn how to walk. And when children learn how to walk, parents like Meghan and myself fear that our son will sneak out of the doggy door one night with a note that said he took the train to Hershey, Pennsylvannia, because he grew bored at our house. So decent, hard-working parents buy toys.

Lots of them.

And that gets us to Stage 4, where we currently reside with our son, Hank, where irony proves to be the greatest comedian of all.

First, about that home of yours. Remember how you bought all those toys that squeaked and the bouncers that kept your son occupied while you watched movies and mom did her eyelashes? Well, one day very soon, mom will realize you have a home full of absolute junk and, fathers, it will be your job to dig a hole in your attic in order to store the guitar shaped like a dog that howls in the key of F. Despite everything you have heard, Stage 4 of a child’s life actually begins with a tidal wave of cleaning because if you don’t get

rid of some of these aliens in your home, your now 2-year-old will violently heave them into the new TV mom bought for the study.

The cleaning isn’t fun; having a son who repeats your every word and action and facial expression is about as good as it gets.

For precisely three scientific (though somewhat fictional) stages of your child’s life, fathers like me scratch our heads wondering why we’ve gained a few extra pounds, why we can’t get our boy to properly throw a slider. And then, out of absolutely nowhere, that little fidget of a kid turns into your buddy.

Remember those first two stages of atrophy? Oh that debilitation is long gone because if I don’t chase my son around now and tackle him onto the pillows and throw him in the air as he mixes his precious laughs with the words, “Faster! Faster!” then I’ll never get that chance again.

If I don’t show him that mixing ketchup and mustard makes a hot dog even better – if I don’t let him grab a handful of ketchup and smother it on his shirt before mom gets home – I might never get that chance again.

For more than a year, my wife has giggled at a little joke we have around our house. She likes to tell me that “40 hit you hard.” She’s right, because after throwing Hank in the air seven times – “Faster!

Faster!” – pieces of me start to ache a little more than they once did.

But who really cares? I can’t wait for Stage 5, and I sure don’t want a book to give away the surprise.

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Page 8 | November 20, 2015 | Union County Weekly

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The Union County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents in western Union County between Nov. 6 and 12: Hemby Bridge Robberies • 6400 block of Mill Grove Road: Suspect arrested on charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon. Nov. 10.

Indian Trail Arson • 1000 block of Dataw Lane: First-degree arson reported causing $100 damage to window curtains: Nov. 8 Fraud • 13800 block of East Independence Boulevard: Felony uttering a forged instrument and possession of stolen goods: Nov. 10 • 7800 block of Idlewild Road: Felony uttering a forged instrument: Nov. 10.

Home/Building Break-Ins • 14000 block of Tall Oaks Lane: Felony break-in of a home: Nov. 6 • 5900 block of Carolina Manor Court: misdemeanor breaking or entering: Nov. 8 • 600 block of South Indian Trail Road: $7 stolen and $500 glass door damaged: Nov. 11 Other • 5200 block of Old Charlotte Highway: Possession of weapon on school property: Nov. 10 Property Damage • 5200 block of Old Charlotte Highway: $300 damage to vehicle: Nov. 6 • 6100 block of Stoney Ridge Drive: $100 damage to vehicle: Nov. 7 • 2000 block of Thurston Drive: $100 damage to mailbox: Nov. 10 • 700 block of Indian Trail-Fairview Road: $200 damage to landscape materials: Nov. 12 Property Theft • 2100 block of Younts Road: $45.80 clothing stolen: Nov. 8 • 2100 block of Younts Road: $120 video game controllers stolen: Nov. 9 • 6700 block of Second Avenue: $300 jewelry stolen: Nov. 10 • 6700 block of Long Nook Lane: $600 cellphone, $170 cash and $40 wallet stolen: Nov. 10 • 2100 block of Younts Road: $99.94 perfume, $28.22 makeup, $1.76 knives, $7.14 charms, $20 sunglasses

The Weekly

Restaurant Scores The Union County Health Department inspected the following dining locations between Nov. 9 and 15:

�s� abou� our Senior� Discoun�

28079 • Arby’s, 13866 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 98.5 • Extreme Ice Center snack bar, 4705 Indian Trail Fairview Road – 94.5 • Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes and Fries – 6640 Old Monroe Road – 91.5 • Pizza Hut, 6732-B Old Monroe Road – 98 • Popeyes, 13800 E. Independence Blvd. – 97 • Sabor Latin Street Grill, 14039 E. Independence Blvd. – 94.5 • Taco Bell, 13710 E. Independence Blvd. – 96.5 • The Trail House, 6751 Old Monroe Road – 94 28104 • McDonald’s, 5925 Weddington Road – 95 28110 • Ala Azteca Butcher Shop, 2300 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 94.5 • Benton Heights Elementary School of the

and striped hoodies stolen: Nov. 11 Robberies • 7000 block of Farm Pond Road: Suspect arrested on charges of robbery with a dangerous weapon: Nov. 9 Vehicle Break-Ins • 6700 block of Old Monroe Road: $1,000 damage to mirror/window: Nov. 8 • 2100 block of Shumard Circle: $1,210 tools stolen: Nov. 12 Marvin Home/Building Break-Ins • 2000 block of Belle Grove Drive: $473.09 building materials stolen. Nov. 9 Property Damage • 100 block of Turkey Hunt Court: $150 damage to mailbox. Nov. 7 • 100 block of Turkey Hunt Court: $150 damage to mailbox. Nov. 7 • 7800 block of Montane Run Court: Suspect arrested on true bill of indictment (felony death by vehicle).

Nov. 11

6

Waxhaw Home/Building Break-Ins • 6100 block of Bigham Road: Home broken into: Nov.

Property Theft • 6600 block of Howie Mine Church Road: Deer stand stolen: Nov. 8 • 3600 block of New Town Road: Leaf blower stolen: Nov. 11 Vehicle Break-Ins • 100 block of Montrose Drive: $5 stolen: Nov. 12 • 200 block of Glenmoor Drive: 2014 vehicle broken into at home: Nov. 12 Weddington Property Damage • 100 block of Vintage Creek Drive: Construction site damaged: Nov. 11 Property Thefts • 700 block of Providence Oak Lane: $25 Valium and $25 Adderall stolen: Nov. 7 The Stallings Police Department reported the following incidents between Nov. 9 and 15: Break-Ins • 1000 block of Woodglen Lane: Theft from vehicle reported. Nov. 9 • 300 block of Cedarwood Lane: Felony charge. Nov. 11 • 500 block of Butternut Lane: Felony charge. Nov. 12 Other • 4000 block of Pleasant Plains Road: Unauthorized use of motor vehicle. Nov. 9

Arts cafeteria, 1200 Concord Ave. – 97 • Crossroads Diner, 4218 Hwy. 218 E. – 96.5 • Fairview Elementary School cafeteria, 110 Clontz Road – 99 • Goodtimes Bar and Grill, 1905 Dickerson Blvd. – 94.5 • Monroe High School cafeteria, 1 High School Drive – 96.5 • Monroe Middle School cafeteria, 601 E. Sunset Drive – 97.5 • Monroe Walmart McDonald’s, 2406 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 96 • Sun Valley Elementary School cafeteria, 5200 Rogers Road – 95 • Unionville Elementary School cafeteria, 4511 Unionville Road – 99.5 28112 • Wolfe School cafeteria, 722 Brewer Drive – 98.5 28173 • Harris Teeter deli, 8157 Kensington Drive – 97 • Ice Cream and Pizza Works, 3913 Providence Road, suite E – 96 • Marvin Elementary School cafeteria, 9900 Marvin-Weddington Road – 98.5 • Pizza Hut, 703 W. South Main St., suite F – 98 • Rea View Elementary School cafeteria, 320 Reid Dairy Road – 95.5 • Rippington’s, 109 W. South Main St. – 97.5

www.unioncountyweekly.com

Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 9

October 2015

Home Sales Date sold

Address

Sale Price

28110 Ashton 5720 Lorna Drive Oct. 23 Benton Heights 626 Benton St. Oct. 1 Briarcliff 1618 Hunter Oak Drive Oct. 5

Homes Sold Average Sales Price Date sold

Address Northwood 1505 Citrus Drive

Oct. 2014

Oct. 2013

224

235

152

$329,372

$279,234

$297,401

Sale Price

Address

Date sold

Oct. 23

$129,900

Wesley Estates 1400 Parkside Drive Oct. 9

$55,000

Oak Creek Farm 107 Serenity Hills Drive Oct. 16

$139,500

Winding Creek 1400 Parkside Drive Oct. 9

$188,500

Old Gate 330 CJ Thomas Road W. Oct. 23

$348,000

Windy Ridge 2606 Spring Breeze Way Oct. 27

$154,000

Brittany Downs East 4206 Swan Sea Court Oct. 30

$130,415

River Chase

2517 River Chase Drive Oct. 30

Cascades 2313 Silver Run Drive

Oct. 2

$161,000

Rocky River Estates 3219 Deer Track Lane Oct. 15

Colonial Village 1409 Williamsburg Lane Oct. 9

$156,000

Rolling Hills

2610 Rolling Hills Drive Oct. 30

Court Square 6011 Embassy Court Oct. 14

$271,500

Sandalwood 3002 Faircroft Way Oct. 2

Crooked Creek Estates 4415 Gwen Hartis Court Oct. 22

$263,730

Fieldstone 2107 Stoney Pointe 2044 Stoney Pointe

Smith Field 2225 Cori Jon Drive 3001 Christian Court

$171,990 $179,990

Oct. 28 Oct. 19

Oct. 2015

St. James 2924 Santiago Circle

Oct. 14 Oct. 8 Oct. 30

$139,000 $137,900 $340,000 $133,000 $226,000 $359,000 $219,900

$159,900

Hamilton Place 3907 Garrison Court Oct. 26

$178,000

Hilton Meadows 1512 Hilton Meadow Dr. Oct. 19

$215,000

The Farms of Willoughby 2627 Farm House Lane Oct. 26 $965,000

Long Brooke 3137 Viola Lane Oct. 16

$140,000

Vineyard 4811 Niagra Court

Meriwether 3006 Kansas City Drive Oct. 14

$138,000

Weddington Ridge 3216 Monte Drive Oct. 1

Oct. 30

Sale Price

$129,500 $129,500

$177,600 $209,500 $159,000 $176,500

$205,000 $171,000

Carmel Acres 2622 Lancaster Hwy. Oct. 28

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$485,715

Kingston on Providence 7701 Kingston Drive Oct. 30 $180,000 $127,000

$114,204

$311,500 $393,000 $439,000 $368,240 $296,000 $335,000 $305,500

Hidden Meadows 2801 Lathan Road Oct. 15

$229,000

Locklyn Heights 4502 Locklyn Road Oct. 30

$210,000

Historic District 605 Church St. Oct. 23

$182,500

Longview 8706 Thornbury Place Oct. 29

$1,175,000

Lexington Commons 2322 Lexington Ave. Oct. 30 816 Southridge Drive Oct. 23 1924 Lexington Ave. Oct. 21 702 Southridge Drive Oct. 14

$160,000 $191,425 $155,000 $186,900

Mountain View 4013 Mountain Drive Oct. 28

$122,000

Millbridge 6002 Fallondale Road 3229 Bridgewick Road 2002 Fallondale Road 2010 Fallondale Road 2012 Fallondale Road 2017 Waterbury Lane 136 Landau Road 2001 Oakmere Road

Oct. 29 Oct. 29 Oct. 27 Oct. 21 Oct. 19 Oct. 15 Oct. 9 Oct. 8

$279,900 $320,000 $325,500 $297,750 $297,000 $368,500 $359,900 $239,000

Stonebridge

3616 Out Of Bounds Dr. Oct. 28

$378,750

Oak Hill Plantation 5301 Camilla Lane Oct. 22 1606 Turtlewood Drive Oct. 15

$292,500 $280,000

Plantation Forest 7313 Bailywick Drive Oct. 14

$175,000

Prescot 4302 Hampstead Heath Oct. 16

$235,000

Providence Downs 8901 Man Of War Drive Oct. 7

$640,000

$282,500 $207,000

Hickory Woods 1319 Hickory Woods Dr. Oct. 20

Styx 1201 Styx Drive

Oct. 23

White Oaks 620 White Oaks Circle Oct. 30

$340,000 $155,000 $70,000 $212,000 $126,000

28173

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$439,900 $381,000 $409,000 $455,000

Oct. 29 Oct. 27 Oct. 26 Oct. 20 Oct. 9 Oct. 2 Oct. 1

Union 2118 White Store Road Oct. 5

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Oct. 16 Oct. 16 Oct. 15 Oct. 14

Sale Price

$170,000

Heatherloch

511 Heatherwood Drive Oct. 30 600 Heather Place Oct. 8

Windy Ridge 2558 Spring Breeze Way Oct. 26

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Hunter Oaks 1315 Grayscroft Drive 8917 Creekstone Road 800 Coachman Drive 803 Carver Pond Lane

Date sold

Lawson 2112 Lord Proprietor Ln. 1100 Hoyle Lane 2425 Trading Ford Drive 1620 Great Road 2717 Lawson Drive 1121 Brough Hall Drive 1136 Wainscott Drive

Winchester 212 Winburn St. Oct. 30

You put the thermometer where?!?

Address

Inverness on Providence 201 Somerled Way Oct. 9

28112

Greenfield 6920 Green Haven Lane Oct. 14

St. Johns Forest 423 Bougainvillea Court Oct. 19 4710 Kiddle Lane Oct. 15 401 Waterlemon Way Oct. 13 319 Lameshur Lane Oct. 9

Editor’s note: Information provided by the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association and www.sales.carolinahome.com

Providence Downs South 1505 Funny Cide Drive Oct. 15 $1,250,000 1207 Lookout Circle Oct. 13 $1,070,000 1704 Funny Cide Drive Oct. 1 $975,000

Alma Village 8008 Alma Blvd.

Oct. 9

$210,000

Providence Grove 8125 Calistoga Lane Oct. 1

$342,000

Brantley Oaks 2501 Winding Oaks Trail Oct. 28

$452,500

Quellin 8507 Quellin Drive

Oct. 8

$369,000

Briarcrest 1821 Robbins Meadows Oct. 28 5404 Radcliffe Drive Oct. 16

$300,000 $345,00

Saddlewood 6321 Saddlewood Drive Oct. 9

$149,900

Somerset 403 Belvedere Lane 419 Belvedere Lane

Oct. 16 Oct. 13

$422,500 $334,000

Stonegate 6104 Greengate Lane

Oct. 8

$290,000

Canterfield Creek 408 Pondview Court Oct. 5

$480,000

Copper Run 1008 Crofton Drive Oct. 29 1512 Springfield Drive Oct. 28 1036 Crofton Drive Oct. 23

$405,235 $420,010 $510,000

Crow Creek Acres 6612 Old Settlers Road Oct. 22

$267,388

The Chimneys of Marvin 2422 Creek Manor Drive Oct. 16 $440,000

Cureton 3508 McPherson St. Oct. 30 8105 Soaring Eagle Ln. Oct. 30 3006 Arsdale Road Oct. 23 8025 Whitehawk Hill Rd. Oct. 8

$548,750 $295,200 $417,500 $276,500

The Gardens on Providence 1009 Sherringham Way Oct. 22 $623,000

Farmbrook 6822 Misty Lane Firethorne 1036 Seminole Drive

Oct. 23 Oct. 9

Forest Green 3213 Waxhaw-Indian Trail Oct. 7 Hermitage Place 8117 Poplar Grove Circle Oct. 29 Hillcrest 614 Rene Circle

Oct. 13

Stratford on Providence 6020 Hathaway Lane Oct. 1 $1,025,000

The Reserve 2313 Lord Anson Drive Oct. 23 2809 Tuscarora Lane Oct. 13

$429,000 $400,000

Tullamore 3008 Rocky Hollow Dr. Oct. 16

$789,000

Tuscany 1717 Sutter Creek Drive Oct. 15

$417,544

Walden Pond 1732 White Pond Lane Oct. 5

$795,000

Waxhaw Meadows 6712 Deer Creek Drive Oct. 29

$244,000

$169,900 $1,650,000 $115,000 $163,750 $88,500

www.unioncountyweekly.com

Page 10 | November 20, 2015 | Union County Weekly Address

Home Sales (continued from page 9)

Address

Date sold

Sale Price

Weddington Forest 1600 Shimron Lane Oct. 13

$660,000

Wesley Oaks 411 Ranelagh Drive Oct. 29 434 Ranelagh Drive Oct. 28 711 Cavendish Lane Oct. 27

$382,500 $385,000 $335,000

Willow Creek 8602 Royster Run Oct. 6

$365,000

Woodland Forest 817 Woodland Forest Dr. Oct. 8

$428,500

Wyndham Hall 121 Stonehurst Lane Oct. 5

$750,000

28104 Atherton 209 Wheatberry Hill Dr. Oct 15

Beulah Oaks 2007 Beulah Oaks Way Oct 16

Bromley 1261 Delaney Drive Oct 29 1265 Delaney Drive Oct 26 6041 Hemby Road Oct 23 3208 Highbury Place Oct 15 1230 Bromley Drive Oct 13

Brookhaven 1027 Elsmore Drive Oct 26 2110 Delamere Drive Oct 26 1008 Shalford Lane Oct 19

Buckingham 1020 Chaucery Lane Oct 22

Callonwood

1835 Hammond Drive Oct 29 1373 Millbank Drive Oct 5

Candella 314 Candella Drive Oct 23 705 Blaise Court Oct 22

$818,776 $594,728 $983,206 $661,286 $896,641 $682,270 $789,769 $360,000 $597,000 $412,000 $190,000 $324,500 $240,000 $411,701 $452,276

Date sold

Sale Price

Address

Chestnut Place 5034 Stonehill Lane Oct 30 $384,745 1215 Clover Lane Oct 2 $430,895

Curry Place 1206 Curry Way Oct 16 $170,000

Enchanted Forest 3421 Wonderland Drive Oct 28 $125,000 3729 Wonderland Drive Oct 20 $103,778

Fairfield Plantation 7124 Stoney Ridge Road Oct 15 $162,000

Fairhaven 1208 Tranquil Falls Lane Oct 26 $258,000 1060 Mountain Laurel Ct. Oct 26 $200,000 1152 Afternoon Sun Rd. Oct 21 $204,900 1421 Afternoon Sun Rd. Oct 16 $224,000 3227 Shadowy Retreat Dr. Oct 8 $225,000

Forest Park 310 Forest Park Road Oct 2 $130,000

Highgate 2095 Kings Manor Drive Oct 15 $1,200,000

Houston Farms 209 Wade Hampton Dr. Oct 29 $392,500

Indian Brook 6125 Indian Brook Drive Oct 6 $271,500

Lake Forest Preserve 1067 Lake Forest Drive Oct 21 $574,990

Lake Providence 6010 Oak Ridge Court Oct 28 $264,000 7032 High Vista Court Oct 8 $375,000

Lake Providence East 849 Spring Oaks Drive Oct 29 $370,000 857 Spring Oaks Drive Oct 1 $500,400

Lindenwood 1233 Hardwood Drive Oct 5 $397,000

Morningside 2156 Bluebonnet Lane Oct 21 $236,000

Providence Woods South 2024 Greenbrook Pkwy. Oct 15 $390,000

Shannamara

Feast on Fitness!

Date sold

8212 Glamorgan Lane Oct 30 4634 Shannamara Drive Oct 1

Sierra Pointe 1001 Raywood Court Oct 14

Weddington Downs 8005 Weddington Downs Oct 30

Wellington Woods 7116 Potters Road Oct 29 100 Devonport Drive Oct 28

28079

Annandale 7010 Sedgewick Road Oct 30 1000 Emerson Lane Oct 30 2016 Terrapin St. Oct 2

Anniston Grove 1113 Anniston Place Oct 20

Ashe Croft 3106 Fairington Drive Oct 23 3008 Parkland Drive Oct 15

Bonterra 1018 Filly Drive Oct 27 1534 Saratoga Blvd.

Oct 21 1000 Backstretch Blvd. Oct 16 1304 Saratoga Blvd.

Oct 16 1035 Backstretch Blvd. Oct 13 1004 Backstretch Blvd. Oct 6

Brandon Oaks 1018 Canopy Drive Oct 30 4003 Rosewater Lane Oct 29 4020 Rosewater Lane Oct 29 1008 Craven St. Oct 26 6005 Fountainbrook Dr. Oct 19 8003 Fenwick Drive Oct 13 2020 Farmingham Lane Oct 13 2005 Fripp Lane Oct 9 6006 Fountainbrook Dr. Oct 7 1012 Hollyhedge Lane Oct 6 6743 Long Nook Lane Oct 5 6981 Honey Tree Lane Oct 2 1029 Fountainbrook Dr. Oct 2 1017 Fountainbrook Dr. Oct 1

Sale Price

Address

$366,000 $349,000 $145,000 $348,000 $290,000 $325,000

$245,000 $285,000 $222,000 $515,000 $137,500 $144,500 $282,500 $281,500 $219,210 $290,100 $254,630 $216,475 $220,000 $256,000 $257,500 $210,000 $207,000 $235,000 $219,500 $298,000 $205,500 $260,000 $210,000 $223,000 $189,000 $212,000

Date sold

Sale Price

Crismark 1023 Breakmaker Lane Oct 1 $240,000

Fieldstone Farm 1003 Green Terra Road Oct 30 $186,000 8003 Blue Stream Lane Oct 27 $230,000 1002 Wellscroft Road Oct 26 $248,000 1002 Sunflower Lane Oct 22 $251,054 1005 Garden Web Road Oct 16 $225,000 11007 Blue Stream Lane Oct 1 $315,000

Glendalough 1738 Seefin Court Oct 30 $295,000 4432 Marlay Park Oct 29 $275,000

Green Meadows 6728 First Ave. Oct 19 $134,000 6612 First Ave. Oct 1 $131,000

Holly Park 2217 Shumard Circle Oct 30 $197,000 1106 Warren Red Way Oct 28 $180,000 2007 Holly Villa Circle Oct 15 $195,000

Hunters Pointe 533 Dovefield Drive Oct 29 $275,000

Lake Park 5924 Hoover Ave. Oct 30 $173,000 3911 Etheredge St. Oct 28 $209,999 3903 Lincoln Court Oct 27 $194,000 3606 Iris St. Oct 7 $177,000

Ridgefield 1025 Ridgefield Circle Oct 29 $142,000

Satterfield 219 Edenshire Court Oct 2 $280,000

Sheridan 3013 Thorndale Road Oct 26 $345,000

Taylor Glenn 1006 Benning Circle Oct 29 $177,500 1005 Downing Court Oct 12 $235,000 1004 Marcell Lane Oct 9 $262,500

The Enclaves At Crismark 3005 Thurston Drive Oct 30 $315,800 1005 Dunwoody Drive Oct 29 $403,258 1009 Marlebone Court Oct 16 $454,855 2002 Freeport Drive Oct 15 $439,120 2005 Audubon Drive Oct 14 $469,450 2005 Atherton Drive Oct 14 $469,450

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www.unioncountyweekly.com

Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 11

Education

Joint meeting reveals miscommunication between county commissioners, school board

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

A long overdue conversation came to a head last week when the Union County Board of Education (BOE) and County Board of Commissioners (BOC) engaged in a joint meeting on Nov. 10 to discuss future communication after county commissioners instituted a new policy regarding money transfers.

The event turned into a “he said, she said” back-and-forth, but ultimately resolved with a notion to increase open communication.

BOC and BOE relations historically have been strained and the tension between the two groups has continued as the BOE asked for more funds for “emerging needs,” or unexpected capital expenses. The BOC denied the request, which lead the BOE to transfer funds from Year 1 of the district’s capital plan (CCEP), to afford a new air conditioning unit and boiler in Weddington High School and a HVAC unit at Monroe Middle School. BOC members say they made the choice not to allocate more funds based on the information gathered from their staff.

BOE Chairman John Collins presented issues with the BOC’s recently established policy that requires BOE members attend a commissioner meeting if the district needs to transfer funds of any dollar amount from one project to another.

UCPS Finance Director Dan Karpinski said at the Nov. 5 BOE meeting, the district could not move forward efficiently with a roofing project at Fairview Elementary School because the lowest responsive bid was $226,330 over budget, but because of the policy, the district could not transfer the extra money from a $9.5 million emergency needs roofing budget and upon reaudit certification because of the commissioner’s policy established on Sept. 8.

Collins said with the new policy the BOE has to attend every commissioners meeting to talk about money transfers, even if it’s a insignificant amount. He worries about the district losing bids because bids typically last about 45 days and the board cannot accommodate for unforeseen structural issues.

Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Stony Rushing said the board established the new policy on Sept. 8 because county commissioners felt they weren’t receiving enough information about the BOE’s spending and needs for transfers. He clarified the BOC didn’t enact the policy as a punishment, but to enforce the two bodies discuss financial solution, so taxpayer dollars are spent accordingly.

He added the policy was to ensure commissioners understand why the school board is moving money from one project to another through asking questions to a BOE representative at a commissioner

meeting.

“I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to come before the board,” Commissioner Lance Simpson said.

At-large BOE member Michael Guzman requested the commissioners give the BOE more flexibility on money transfers in regard to roofing since it’s an immediate need.

“Time is money … we want to make sure we use the money in the most efficient way possible,” he said.

District 2 BOE member Kevin Stewart, who is the Facilities Committee chair, felt the policy was another “level of bureaucracy.”

Board of Commissioners Chairman Richard Helms said county staff told the commissioners that the BOE already had funds to use to afford emerging needs through the money allocated in the budget, as well as a surplus. The surplus came from the district saving funds for instructional dollars to go toward a state-required technology initiative in the coming years.

Rushing also asserted that the emerging needs were not immediately needed – particularly stating “people on the ground” said that Weddington High School was “cold,” so a new air conditioning unit might not be necessary. He also asserted the BOE is responsible for addressing schools repair needs and carrying out the money allocated to each project.

Stewart said he felt the board used the capital funds wisely and allocated the money per project accordingly; however, he said the budgets per project might increase due to the construction sector increasing prices.

Helms believes information between staff became misconstrued as it transferred between groups, which led to miscommunication between boards. He said requiring a UCPS staff or board member attend the BOC meeting would diminish misinformation.

Rushing said he wish he knew about the emerging needs before the budget discussions were over and the BOC could have potentially used the money that went toward teacher supplements to afford emergency needs. He also added he wanted to review the district’s upcoming needs, particularly regarding the McKibbon report of the CCEP that will be presented next month, as the two board move forward and increase communication.

District 3 BOE member Gary Sides encouraged the BOE and BOC to have joint meetings during budget discussions to better clarify the district’s needs, and BOE Vice Chairwoman Leslie Boyd encouraged BOC members to attend BOE meetings as well.

“I’m committed to addressing your needs, but I need to ask (UCPS and BOE) to demonstrate what the needs are,” Helms said.

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www.unioncountyweekly.com

Page 12 | November 20, 2015 | Union County Weekly

Education

Helping students in need BOE members urge for community involvement to help high-need schools

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Union County Public Schools has six lowperforming schools, according to state standards, and the Union County Board of Education (BOE) and Board of Commissioners (BOC) want to urge the community to help.

In a joint session with the BOE and BOC on Nov. 10, BOC Chairman Richard Helms referenced an effort for ways the community can help underperforming schools, including an initiative in Concord to try to improve those schools.

“Basically, what it is that boards of government and/or corporations volunteer to assist in providing resources in some way that we might be able to enhance the learning experience of our young people,” Helms said.

Helms said many of the students in highneed schools don’t have outside influences that encourage them to strive for success and the board wanted to offer some help.

Creating a volunteer network

District 3 BOE member Gary Sides introduced the idea of a community effort to help Union County’s high-need schools after meeting with the six principals of those schools last month.

“It became very clear that one of the things that they lack that some of our more successful schools have are volunteers, engaged parents (and) active PTA/PTO programs,” Sides said.

Sides suggested hosting a Union County Education Summit after the holidays in an effort to coordinate volunteer groups in the area.

He said there are many groups in Union County that help the schools, but they don’t communicate with one another. The summit would create a network of those groups that could have one form of communication, such as a Facebook group, for community members and groups to learn about volunteer opportunities or initiatives.

“The summit would invite any group, any business, anyone who is interested in engaging in, starting with these six most-challenged schools, to provide the resources and volunteer help … that we all know is so crucial to their success,” Sides said.

He recognizes there are groups in the area that would love to help these schools, but need a vehicle to reach those students’ needs. Sides also suggested encouraging local governments and chambers of commerce to help reach these students and provide essential resources.

“It could be a simple as going to a reading day for a child, going to volunteer for this or that,” Sides said. “… If nothing else, we need to show these teachers, principals and folks that are de-

termined to give their best effort to make real changes in these six schools and I’m determined to assist them in any way I can.”

Sides plans to work with staff members of boards and organizations to coordinate the initiative.

Rolling out a math academy

Sides isn’t the only school board member with a plan to help high-need students. BOE Vice chairman Leslie Boyd plans to work with a group in the community to recreate a three-week math academy camp in Union County that she’s found to be successful in Cleveland County.

A community group in Cleveland County recognized the district had some low-performing schools and wanted to help. They realized reading programs were becoming popular, but not many math programs were available, so they took on the task.

For the past seven years, a community group that formed a 501c3 nonprofit hosts a three-week math academy program during the summer to help low-performing students in third- through fifth-grade achieve in math. All students are provided the camp on scholarship and the nonprofit hired area teachers to instruct the program and to follow the district’s core curriculum Boyd said the country has seen an increased

in proficiency scores on the state EOGs in math since implementing the program. That success encouraged Boyd to want to mimic the program in UCPS. “The program follows exactly what they’re doing in schools … I immediate thought of our low-performing school and I thought it would be great,” she said.

The development of the program in Union County is still in its infancy phase, Boyd said, but she feels the program can be implemented

by July 2016.

But first, the program needs capital. Boyd estimated the program will cost $13,000 for 250 to 350 students and the program will need volunteers. She said the amount of money raised will determine how many students they can serve.

Community members plan to form a 501c3 and then start working with area churches and groups to coordinate where the camp will be held.

“The one thing is that this is a community event. It has to be community-led. It’s not a school board initiative and the only way for this to work is if it’s community led,” Boyd said.

Boyd said she will continue to meet with area volunteer groups and the nonprofit in Cleveland County to determine details.

Contact Boyd at leslie.boyd@ucps.k12.nc.us for ways to support the initiative.

Some parents want to stick their feet in cement

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Student reassignment is never going to make everyone happy. The CharlotteMecklenburg Board of Education has already recognized that and realizes it must walk a careful line to bridge the gap between low- and high-need schools.

Parents who are happy with their schools don’t want to leave them, and I don’t blame them. Families intentionally move to a neighborhood to attend a specific school, and then when some seemingly distant board ships their students somewhere else, they feel slighted.

Just ask Union County Public Schools parents how they felt about redistricting a couple of years ago. Parents filed a lawsuit against the district.

Can we blame them for being upset? I met a woman whose senior in high school goes to a different school than her freshman because the senior was grandfathered in to the redrawn lines. Does that make sense?

A bigger concern is whether the community is attempting to solve the effects of the greater Charlotte area’s polarization of wealth through redistricting. Are we trying to solve a social issue in the community of racially isolated neighborhoods and “the haves and the have nots” with redistricting?

Data after data demonstrates a correlation between academic success and wealth.

Most people won’t deny that.

Some children have parents who read with them every night and are college graduates, while others have the odds stacked against them – wondering where their next meal will come from or are left taking care of their baby sister because the only parent in the household has to work late. We know it doesn’t sit well to know there are children who cannot learn because of circumstances they cannot control, rather than their will to achieve or their attitude.

I can’t control that I grew up in a white, middle-class family, the same way another child doesn’t have any bearing on whether their family lives paycheck to paycheck.

However, it shouldn’t matter where a child wakes up – every child deserves a proper education.

Some more fortunate families don’t want to be counted out and say, “Hey! We have struggles too. Health care doesn’t pay for itself and I work hard to provide my child with opportunities. Our families matter too.”

Families now have to strike a balance between what they feel is best for their individual child and what’s best for the community.

Some experts say diversity boosts both efforts. I attended a forum by the League of

Women Voters and Dr. Roslyn Mickelson of UNC-Charlotte said diverse classrooms help all students – not exclusively those economically disadvantaged.

She explained how desegregation, if done “correctly,” is a two-way exchange of experiences. Children gain a greater “bank” of knowledge because they’re exposed to different cultures, perspectives and glimpses into the “other” life.

North Carolina lawmakers want students to be “college- and career-ready,” but do the schools reflect what the world or workplaces look like today?

Experts who’ve done countless hours of research on segregation and desegregation say, “No, and that’s a problem.”

What is the average student facing – especially the black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students who are leaps away from their white counterparts in state testing?

“Fortune” magazine listed only 15 black executives have ever made it the chairman or CEO position of a “Fortune 500” listed company since 1987 and only five are still active. There are no black majority-owned companies currently in the Fortune 500 rankings.

James Johnson, of UNC-Chapel Hill, suspects the white community will diminish as more Hispanic and ethnic groups flock to the Charlotte area. He said it’s

going to be a “browner” area, so students potentially will continue to be exposed to diversity. We have to embrace it.

Maybe Mickelson is on to something about that two-way exchange, but even she’s not sure about taking students out of schools they love and excel in.

However, diversity is and most likely will continue to be part of the character of the community. People say it’s “a community effort” to help all students achieve and we know the work isn’t over until every child can do so.

But when does helping the community start to stand in the way of doing what’s best for the individual child?

There is no right answer. Maybe the school board will have it by November 2016.

With America’s long-standing tradition, Thanksgiving, right around the corner, Union County Weekly wants to know what area students are most thankful for!

Submit your student’s name, school and answer to courtney@ carolinaweeklynewspapers.com to be featured in next week’s issue.

www.unioncountyweekly.com

Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 13

Faith

The Weekly

We got bowties for Thanksgiving

by Rev. Tony Marciano tonym@charlotterescuemission.org

I’m like Ralphie in the famous Christmas movie, “A Christmas Story.” He kept asking for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

Everyone said to him, “You’ll shoot Rev. Tony Marciano your right eye out.” I didn’t want a Red Ryder BB gun, but there is something I’ve wanted for years. At every holiday meal at the Rescue Mission, I kept telling people over and over what I wanted. It was a simple thing, but something I wouldn’t spend Mission money on. It would have to be donated to us. They’d look at me and say, “That’s a nice idea,” but I really think they thought I was crazy.

I wanted bowties. I wanted someone to donate little black bowties for our volunteers to wear on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. I wanted to make our holiday meals even more special for people coming to the Rescue Mission. While we require our volunteers to wear white shirts

and black pants, there was one thing missing if we were to make the Rescue Mission feel like an elegant dining experience. We needed black bowties.

For the past five years, every holiday I told our volunteers about my idea.

They’d smile, thinking it was a little over the top and walk away. But last Easter, something special happened.

I was talking to a couple and shared my idea. Something stirred within them.

A few months later, a box appeared at my office door. I opened it, not knowing its contents. If my name was Ralphie, I would have squealed with delight had it been a Red Ryder BB gun. Instead, it was something better – it was 100 black tuxedo bowties.

It’s been said that God answers prayers three ways: yes, no and wait. While “no” is hard, I think “wait” is harder. When you are in the “wait” mode, the vision God has laid on your heart remains.

You can see what He wants you to do.

You can see it as if it is already occurring right in front of you. Yet, you are still waiting, still hoping, still believing this will become a reality.

Sometimes in “wait,” we throw down the towel and we give up too quickly.

Our friends walk away seeing us as an idealist, a dreamer, or someone without either of our feet firmly planted on the

ground. They want to celebrate when it becomes a reality, yet they don’t want to be seen with us when all it appears to be is “just a dream.”

On Nov. 26, 2015, I will be doing the “happy dance.” I will be like Ralphie holding my very own Red Ryder BB gun. I will greet all the volunteers who came to the Charlotte Rescue Mission to serve our community guests with excitement. They will arrive in white shirts with button-down collars and black pants. I will not be able to contain myself. I will pull out the box of black bowties and tell them the story of God’s faithfulness. We will help each other get these ties positioned just right. Later that day when our community guests are about to enter our dining room, they will first be asked, “How many are in your party?”

Then they will enter our dining room and be greeted by a sea of volunteers wearing white shirts and black bowties.

Why do we do this?

Everything we do is designed to make the love of God so real that each community guest will be able to touch it. I want them to know that not only do we love them, God also loves them. This feast, including black bowties, is His way of telling them.

I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well my friend.

Faith Briefs

Monroe Aglow to host Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday, Nov. 21 MONROE – Monroe Aglow will host a community Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m.

The event will include a devotion and community meal.

Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite Thanksgiving side dish. The event is open to the public.

Monroe Aglow is located at 3405 Old Charlotte Hwy.

‘Walk Through Bethlehem’ at Waxhaw Baptist on Dec. 19 WAXHAW – Waxhaw Baptist Church will host “A Walk Through Bethlehem” on Dec. 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. Guests are invited to drop by anytime during the three-hour time frame and will experience an indoor/outdoor interactive guided tour of the night Jesus was born. Guests will meet merchants from Bethlehem and follow the shepherds and wise men on their journey to find Jesus.

Waxhaw Baptist Church is located at 8213 Waxhaw Baptist Church.

Weddington United Methodist collecting sweet potato casseroles WEDDINGTON – Weddington United Methodist Church will collect sweet potato casseroles made in a disposable dish to be dropped off at the church office by noon on Nov. 25, a Wednesday. The casseroles will benefit Lord of the Harvest Thanksgiving meal ministry, which will provided meal services to more than 1,400 individuals in need in Union County.

Weddington UMC is located at 13901 Providence Road.

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Page 14 | November 20, 2015 | Union County Weekly

Celebrate the season for gratitude with our annual Thanksgiving events guide

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

The leaves have changed colors and begun to fall, football is in a full-fledged frenzy and it’s almost time to celebrate one of the oldest American traditions: Thanksgiving.

We’ve compiled our annual Union County Weekly guide to area Thanksgiving events to help our readers find a way to celebrate the holiday.

So, whether you’re craving a good meal, looking for a way to give back this season or hoping to reflect on your blessings during a quiet church service, check out this listing to find the event that’s right for you.

And, as always, if you know of a special event occurring in the area, we want to know about it. Send submissions for the Union County Weekly Community Calendar to courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com.

MillBridge to host annual Turkey Trot to benefit Autism Society WAXHAW – The MillBridge community in downtown Waxhaw will host its annual Turkey Trot to benefit the Autism Society of North Carolina on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26.

The run/walk will take place on four miles of tree-lined roads within MillBridge. Kids 10 years old and younger also can participate in a free Kids’ Turkey Dash prior to the Turkey Trot.

Race-day packet pickup and registration

takes place at 6:30 a.m., followed by the Kids’ Turkey Dash at 7:30 a.m. and the four-mile Turkey Trot at 8 a.m. An awards ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to the overall top three male and female finishers.

Registration is available online at turkeytrotmillbridge.racesonline.com. Cost to participate is $30. All proceeds will benefit the Autism Society of North Carolina, “which works to directly improve the lives of individuals and families affected by autism through advocacy, training/education, and direct services,� read a news release.

Find more information at www.millbridge-nc.com.

Lord of the Harvest to hold annual Thanksgiving lunch MONROE – The Lord of the Harvest annual Thanksgiving lunch is a 26-year tradition that provides a free Thanksgiving meal to local families in need and those who might not have anywhere else to go to celebrate Thanksgiving.

The event will take place on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Shrine Club, located at 305 E. Phifer St. near downtown Monroe.

Local nonprofit Operation Reach Out heads up the Lord of the Harvest initiative, with help from area churches and ministries, such as Restoration House. Operation Reach Out needs donations of various food items, as well as volunteers to help prepare and serve meals and

's A Wonderful Life

Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting

Sunday, December 6

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Indian Trail Christmas Tree Lighting

Parade applications are still being accepted! Call Susan Didier at 704-821-2541 or visit www.indiantrail.org for more on how you can take part!

Special thanks to our local events sponsors:

Sponsored by Union West Rotary and The Town of Indian Trail

clean up after the event.

Call 704-289-4237 for more information on how to volunteer or contribute to the cause.

Common Heart to host ninth annual Great Turkey Countdown INDIAN TRAIL – Local nonprofit Common Heart will host its annual Great Turkey Countdown, with the goal of giving a complete Thanksgiving meal to 1,000 families across Union County and in eastern Mecklenburg County.

Volunteers are needed to assist with delivering the meals to Common Heart clients, as well as in other areas, on Great Turkey Countdown distribution day, Saturday, Nov. 21.

Volunteer opportunities are available at various times between 7 a.m. and noon on Nov. 21. Common Heart also needs donations of food items, as well as monetary contributions. Find more information including a list of needed items, how to donate and a link to a SignUpGenius volunteer schedule at www.turkeys.commonheart.org.

Thanksgiving service and dinner at Shiloh Baptist MONROE – Shiloh Baptist Church will host its annual Thanksgiving Service and Supper on Sunday, Nov. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The service will begin in the church sanctuary, followed by a meal in Shiloh Baptist’s Family Ministry Center. Find more information at www.shilohbaptistmonroe.com.

The church is located at 2301 N. Rocky River Road.

Thanksgiving dinner and a movie at Bethany Church WEDDINGTON – Bethany Church of Weddington will host a Thanksgiving Celebration Dinner and a Movie on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 5 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the church office on Thursday, Nov. 19, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., or on Sunday morning before or after the worship service. Cost to attend the dinner is $3 per person or $12 per family for families of four or more.

Families are asked to bring a vegetable or side dish and a dessert. The church will provide turkey, ham, bread and beverages.

Email office@bethany-church.com or call 704-846-3943 for more information.

Bethany Church is located at 4301 Beulah Church Road.

Thanksgiving service at Waxhaw Bible Church WAXHAW – The community is invited to a Thanksgiving service next week at Waxhaw Bible Church.

The service will take place Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. Call 704-843-4514 for more information.

Waxhaw Bible is located at 6810 Pleasant Grove Road.

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The Weekly

Calendar November of Holiday 20 Symphony Homes The League of Union County Symphony will host the Symphony of Holiday Homes, a two-day event of holiday decorating ideas.

One ticket buys two days of celebrating the season, while supporting the Union Symphony.

There are seven locations to visit: Swan Manor, Barbara and Bill Parker’s home, Linda Grue’s home, Shelly and David Nelms’ home, Laura and Paul Dugick’s home, Rebecca and Bob Bookholt’s home, and Mary Jane and Kirby Crooke’s Estate.

Advanced tickets are $25 and tickets will cost $30 on tour day at Swan Manor only.

Check or cash only will be accepted. Raffle tickets and refreshments are available at Swan Manor.

Contact 704-283-2525 for more information.

3 to 8 p.m. each day; Swan Manor, 219 Ridge Road, Monroe

21 Holiday Painting Party

Children, who are 7 to 12 years old, will create a colorful holiday-themed painting to take home.

The cost is $20, which covers art supplies and refreshments. Space is limited and families can register at www.aliciamcdanielfineart. com.

Noon to 2 p.m.; Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, 100 Navajo Trail, Indian Trail

County 22 Union Christmas Parade The Union County Christmas Parade will celebrate its 62nd year in historic downtown Monroe.

The long-held tradition provides families, businesses and local government to gather in the spirit of community and celebration.

The Alliance for Children serves as the coordinating agency for the parade, reserving float space for participating groups and businesses.

Visit theallianceforchildren.org/christmasparade or contact Linda Smith at lsmith@theallianceforchildren.org for more information.

2 to 4 p.m.; Downtown Monroe

Party 24 Libertarian Meeting Residents can discuss libertarian solutions to local, state and federal issues with the Libertarian Party of Union County at the 201 Central café.

Their café has Wi-Fi and snacks will be available.

Visit www.facebook.com/pages/ Libertarian-Party-of-Union-CountyNC/172686992767804 for more information.

7 to 8:30 p.m.; 201 Central, 5939 Weddington Road, Wesley Chapel

24 Nutrition 101

A certified nutritionist will offer basic nutrition information for free for the community.

Attendees must register at the Siskey Family YMCA Sales and Service Desk or online at www.ymcacharlotte.org/branches/siskey/ sk.aspx.

Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 15 Call the CMC Health Center at 704-7164293 for more information.

6 to 7 p.m.; Chapel, Siskey Family YMCA, 3127 Weddington Road, Matthews

Cancer Support 24 LSI Group This support group is for anyone who has experienced cancer in the past or is currently in treatment. The group is facilitated by a Levine Cancer Institute professional and serves as a forum for sharing ideas and encouragement with others on this journey, according to a news release.

Contact Marla Cesario at marla.cesario@ ymcacharlotte.org or call 704-716-4293 to RSVP or for more information.

4 to 5:30 p.m.; Chapel, Siskey Family YMCA, 3127 Weddington Road, Matthews

Four-Mile 26 MillBridge Turkey Trot MillBridge, a “master planned community,” will host its annual Turkey Trot to benefit the Autism Society of North Carolina.

The run/walk will take place on four miles of tree-lined private road of the neighborhood. Participants will receive a short-sleeved tech tee and a grab bag. Top finishers in each age group will receive medals and there will be a prize awarded to the overall top three male and female finishers.

Racers can register online at turkeytrotmillbridge.racesonline.com and costs $30.

Race Day registration starts at 6:30 a.m. and the race will start at 8 a.m., with awards to follow at 9:30 a.m.

Children younger than 10 years old may participate in a free Kids’ Turkey Dash, which will start at 7:30 a.m.

Individuals who wish to donate to the Austism Society, but don’t wish to run, can donate at https://turkeytrotmillbridge.racesonline. com/fundraising/campaigns/2015-autismsociety-of-nc/donations/new.

Visit www.millbridge-nc.com for more information.

8 a.m.; MillBridge neighborhood, 1401 MillBridge Pkwy., Waxhaw

Painting Party 28 Holiday for All Ages Children of all ages can create a painting to take home.

The cost is $20, which covers art supplies and refreshments. Space is limited and families can register at www.aliciamcdanielfineart.com.

6 to 8 p.m.; Indian Trail Cultural Arts Center, 100 Navajo Trail, Indian Trail

December

3

Pass the Plate – Western Union County

Pass the Plate is an opportunity to share stories about the Union County Community Shelter through the shelter’s clients.

The fundraiser is a “free” event and attendees will receive a complimentary breakfast and a brief program.

All proceeds of the event benefit the shelter programs that serve anyone who is hungry and has economic obstacles to feeding themselves or their family. The shelter also provides shelter for those in need and helps to move from homelessness to permanent housing.

Contact Jenn Alexander at jenn.alexander@ unionshelter.org for more information.

7 to 8:45 a.m.; St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 8515 Rea Road, Waxhaw

www.unioncountyweekly.com

Page 16 | November 20, 2015 | Union County Weekly

Sports

Survive and advance: Union County preps for round two of playoffs

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

It’s win or go home now with the state playoffs officially underway. We had our first round of games, which ended in celebration for some and heartbreak for others.

Monroe (12-0, 5-0 Rocky River), the top seed in the 2AA west regional, spanked No. 16-seeded Forbush (5-7, 2-3 Western Piedmont) in the first round, soaring past the Falcons, 55-7 Nov. 13. The Redhawks will host No. 8-seeded Maiden (9-3, 5-2 Southern District 7) Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Defensively, Monroe is second to none. The Redhawks have pitched four shutouts, and only yielded double-digit points four times this season.

This stingy unit is led by linebacker Dontaviaus Covington, defensive lineman/outside linebacker MiQuille Bryant and outside linebacker Trayquan Price and a multitude of other talented players.

“We got a pretty stout defense that’s done a great job all year,” Monroe coach Johnny Sowell said. “It’s been a great year. Any time you hold teams to seven points you give the offense a chance to get the ball a lot.”

Monroe must contain Maiden’s dual-threat quarterback Caleb Farley. If the Redhawks can pin their ears back, get after him early, and keep him from

getting into rhythm, then it should be a smooth flight to the third round, where it would face the winner of No. 4-seeded Franklin (9-3, 6-1 Western North Carolina Athletic) and No. 12-seeded West Caldwell (7-5, 4-3 Southern District 7).

Farley can throw, but has a run-first mentality.

“Our defense is probably going to have one of its toughest tests it’s had all year,” Sowell said.

Weddington (10-2, 4-1 Southern Carolinas), the No. 6 seed in the 3AA west regional, edged No. 11-seeded Asheville (9-3, 4-2 Mountain Athletic), defeating the Cougars 30-17 Nov. 13. The Warriors will visit No. 3-seeded A.C. Reynolds (11-1, 6-0 Mountain Athletic) Friday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

“Our team comes to compete on Friday night,” Weddington coach Tim Carson said. “Our team played a good Asheville team, and came away with a W. It was a good, hard fought ballgame. Our kids did a great job.”

Carson added the Warriors benefited to have senior Nick Patterson return to the defensive line.

Patterson, who was out with an injury, sparked the Warriors with three sacks, and scored two touchdowns to spur Weddington to victory.

Weddington also got a solid performance from its offensive line, which is peaking at the right time.

Cuthbertson (8-4, 3-2 Southern Carolinas), the No. 10 seed in the 3AA west regional, upended

Weekly

No. 7-seeded Erwin (7-5, 5-1 Mountain Athletic), overcoming the Warriors 49-40. The Cavaliers will travel to Shelby for a date with No. 2-seeded Crest (12-0, 8-0 South Mountain Athletic) Friday, Nov. 20.

The Chargers haven’t lost since it fell to Durham (N.C.) Southern, 38-31, in the state championship in 2013, and is more than equipped to defend their crown. Needless to say, Cuthbertson has an Everestsized obstacle in its way.

“Obviously, they’re one of the best teams in the state of any classification,” Cuthbertson coach David Johnson said. “They’re a very good, well-coached team, athletes all over the field, so for us it’s really going to come down to doing our assignment, staying in position and making sure we got hats to the ball to tackle them and making sure we’re blocking everyone and going from there.”

The Cavaliers will need an epic performance from senior quarterback Austin Kendall, who always gives the team a chance when he takes the field with his college-ready talent and ability to find his receivers and make plays.

If the Warriors and Cavaliers emerge victorious they will meet in the state playoffs for the second consecutive season. Weddington won the opportunity to compete for the state title last season, eliminating Cuthberson in a 24-21 decision.

Marvin Ridge’s season came to disappointing end when the Mavericks blew a 13-point lead in a 28-20 loss to Robinson in the first round of the 3AA state playoffs.

However, the Mavs have a strong foundation to build on for what seems to be a promising future after finishing 8-4 and winning the Southern Carolinas Conference championship in Aubrey Carter’s first season as head coach.

Concord, the top seed in the 3AA west regional, dispatched Sun Valley, blowing the Spartans out, 56-28, Nov. 13. Sun Valley ended the season at 5-7, but brighter days are ahead for the Spartans with quarterback Sam Howell (3,586 yards and 35 touchdowns passing to 15 interceptions) returning under center for the next three seasons. That itself should give coach Tad Baucom much to smile about.

Forest Hills (8-4, 4-1 Rocky River) and Parkwood (5-7, 2-3 Rocky River) also made first round exits from the 2AA state playoffs. The Yellow Jackets lost 35-27 to East Burke at home, while the Rebels fell 45-21 at West Stokes Nov. 13.

Our journey in the playoffs will surely have more twists and turns, but all these teams need to do is just find a way to survive and advance. That’s what it’s all about this late in the season.

Union County stat leaders

Game Picks

Passing

Independence at East Forsyth Myers Park at West Forsyth Mallard Creek at Butler Ardrey Kell at Hough Seventy-First at Charlotte Catholic Weddington at A.C. Reynolds Cuthbertson at Crest Maiden at Monroe

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www.unioncountyweekly.com

Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 17

Sports

Weddington boys’ soccer advances to state title

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Powell Williams joked that it was windy, but Weddington’s boys’ soccer coach was fighting back tears following his team’s 3-0 win over No. 6-seed Asheville (20-4-2, 10-2 Mountain Athletic) Tuesday, Nov. 17 to advance to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A state championship.

The No. 5-seeded Warriors (19-1-2, 8-0 Southern Carolinas) will face the east regional champion, No. 3-seeded Lee County (25-3-1, 12-0 Cape Fear Valley), at Dail Soccer Complex on the campus of N.C. State Saturday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. This marks the first time Weddington has reached the state title match in school history.

“It’s really going to make my day just to watch them get off the bus at N.C. State, to watch their faces, their warm up, the whole atmosphere,” Williams said. “That will carry me on for the next 15 years. I’ll live that down forever.”

Senior forward Christian Fulton put the Warriors on the board 10 minutes into the game when he scored on a through ball down the middle.

“When I saw the ball coming over the top I saw he wasn’t going to clear it and I let it

come through, took a touch and finished it,” Fulton said.

Fulton sustained an ankle injury in the second half, but hopes to play Saturday.

His goal was all Weddington needed, but the Warriors picked up some insurance with two second half goals – one off an errant bounce from a throw in by senior center back Matt Allison. Junior midfielder Jay Peeler scored the other.

The Warriors held the Cougars offense at bay with a strong performance led by its backline of Allison and fellow seniors Eric Schwieger, Jake Van Dyne and Lucas Gusmao (goalie) and junior Sam Reinecke.

“My defense is always going to have my back even if I do a little mistake,” Gusmao said. “I have Matt, Eric, Jake, Sam, they’re amazing defenders, and they always have my back. They save me when I mess up, and I save them when they mess up. It just goes both ways.

“It’s amazing. This is what we’ve been working for. This started from camp at coach’s house, summer workouts all the way to here and we’ve made it. This is our dream basically since freshman year.”

Gusmao said the Warriors had heart and wanted it more than the competition.

“It means the world to this program, the

principals, the staff, everyone’s going to be proud of us, especially Coach,” Gusmao said. “He’s been working on this, and he’s finally made it to states, and especially the team, we’ve worked hard all year and now we’re going to states and brining back the trophy for Weddington.”

Williams said the Warriors have finally won games they weren’t supposed to win, which he believes is the mark of a great team.

They beat Marvin Ridge three times this season, and knocked off top-seeded Ashbrook, 1-0, and took down Asheville despite being considered the favorite by many.

“I don’t think we played very well,” Williams said. “Asheville came to play. They were tough, just a quality team all the way through. This is what this team is all about.

They dug deep today, and they grinded this one out. To beat this team by three goals that’s impressive in itself.

“It was an impressive game, physical all around, and I think when our team matches physicality, fouls weren’t going our way, you just kind of got to get through that stuff. We got a little rattled in the first half, no doubt about it. I think that first goal gave us a little bit of calm down, so that the second half we could kind of catch our breath.”

Williams has been to a state championship

Ben Doster/UCW photo

before when he guided Weddington’s girls’ team to the NCHSAA 3A final in 2014, where it lost 2-1 to Chapel Hill. He knows what to expect, and gleaned much from it that should help him prepare his team for what’s looming.

“It’s definitely not something you just walk into and coach the same way you’ve coached every other game,” Williams said.

“It’s a total different thing. The boys are more excited. It’s an all-day affair, so you got to be kind of on your game.”

Weddington doesn’t have a superstar on its team, but works well collectively and has good veteran leadership and experience. The Warriors should be focused and ready to go when they take the pitch against the Yellow Jackets.

Union County student athletes sign with colleges

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Union County had much to be proud of when 23 student athletes from three different schools – Cuthbertson, Marvin Ridge and Weddington signed national letters of intent to play sports at the collegiate level Wednesday, Nov. 11.

National Signing Day is a special day for student athletes, at least a select few, who get to see their hard work and sacrifices pay off when they see their dream to compete at the college level fulfilled. Union County will be sending a crowd of graduating seniors to the next level once the 2016 fall semester rolls around.

Marvin Ridge had the most student athletes sign national letters of intent with 10.

Kevin Dobos will continue his baseball career at Kent State University, Mark Glover joins the baseball team at Lafayette College, Jacob Cornatzer will play baseball at USC-Lancaster, Drew Swoope will take his baseball talents to Sewanee-The University of the South, Chandler Castleberry will play baseball at Anderson University, Abby Joselyn joins the lacrosse program at Florida Southern College, gymnast Rachel Mastrangelo will attend University of California at Berkely, Casey Bigham will continue her softball career at Furman University, Dharma Rosbrugh will play softball at Tusculum College, and James Marine will take his lacrosse talents to Wing-

Photos courtesy of Weddington High School

ate University.

Cuthbertson will send seven student athletes to the collegiate ranks.

Hayley Kobziak will continue her softball career at N.C. State, Mark Serna will play lacrosse at Coker College, gymnast Alexandra Wesoly will attend Towson University, Lizzie Hordes will golf for Belmont Abbey, Austin Kendall will play football at Oklahoma, Christine Carver takes her Austin Kendall softball talents Coker College, and Kathleen Fritz will ride with the Equestrian team at Baylor.

Weddington had six student athletes ink with college programs.

John Brocklebank will play baseball at Radford University, Josh Hollifield will play baseball Virginia Military Institute, Tyler Penner joins the baseball team North Carolina Central University, Mitchell Resor will run crosscountry at North Carolina, Dayna Decesare will take her lacrosse talents to Lees McRae College, and Parker Walton will run the wrestling mats at Duke.

These student athletes, who will likely be joined by more, will represent Union County in collegiate athletics in the 2016-17 academic year. It speaks to the talent and success in this area not only on the field of competition, but also the classroom.

www.unioncountyweekly.com

Page 18 | November 20, 2015 | Union County Weekly

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Union County Weekly | November 20, 2015 | Page 19

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Page 20 | November 20, 2015 | Union County Weekly

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