Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly Dec. 21, 2018 by Charlotte Media Group

Inside: A glimpse into county manager's work • Page 5A

Friday, Dec. 21, 2018 • Vol. 11 • No. 51

ABOUT US

Faith

P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261

Boy gives father a special gift

justin@cmgweekly.com matthewsminthillweekly.com

Tony Marciano Reverend

ART CLASSES

‘Stay the course. Life is going to be really tough, but you’ve always been a survivor and you’re going to survive this too,’” she said. DePrater first thought of the idea for The Gift Boutique in 2015 after one too many canvas paint nights

few years ago, my young adult children became very competitive around the gift they gave me for Christmas. The question was “Who gave the best Christmas gift to dad (me)?” For years, my son, Anthony (we call him Ant), watched me cook rotisserie chicken on our grill using a motor my father gave me over 25 years before. Over the years, the cover came off and the gears were exposed. We attached it to the grill with bailing wire. Often, it fell off and the chickens burned. It just wasn’t working. He found a motor that could spin 50 pounds of chicken and gave it to me as a Christmas gift. Every time we use it, he still brags that he gave dad the very best Christmas gift. Ever. There was another gift he gave me that was also exceptional. He may have forgotten, so I need to take him back to when he was 7. It was Christmas morning and we were opening gifts. My wife handed me something that was about 18 inches long and about one inch in diameter. I can still see it as if it was yesterday. It was wrapped in red wrapping paper. She explained it was from Ant. I had no idea what it was. As I unwrapped the gift, I saw that it was a long-handled screw driver. I spun the handle to see the Craftsman logo. It was nowhere to be found. In fact, the handle wasn’t acrylic

see DIY, Page 3A

see FAITH, Page 4A

Katherine DePrater (center) poses with students in her sign-making class at The Gift Workshop, which she recently opened in Mint Hill after surviving a few of life's ups and downs.. Photo courtesy of Katherine DePrater

WEEKLY PICKS

Staying the course Despite setbacks, Mint Hill woman follows dream of opening DIY boutique by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

Getting little Lizzie and Timmy a puppy this holiday may be risky, the Better Business Bureau warns. Don’t wire money to people you don’t trust, see the pooch in person and research prices to avoid throwing money away.

Porch pirates Protect your home deliveries by tracking your packages, creating a package drop or upgrading your broadband to install a security camera, according to Windstream. Visit www.matthewsminthillweekly.com for more tips to thwart porch pirates.

Film screening The Matthews Library screens the 1951 classic “A Christmas Carol” 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 21. Register in advance by calling 704-416-5000.

Travel The weekends before Christmas and New Year’s Day will be the heaviest traffic congestion periods for most of the state, especially on interstates such as I-95, I-77, I-85, I-40 and I-26, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Streaming It’s bad enough that creatures are chasing Sandra Bullock and her children through the woods, but for some unexplained reason, the family must wear blindfolds to avoid seeing their worst fears. “Bird Box” drops Dec. 21 on Netflix.

Movies “Aquaman” and “Bumblebee” are set for a collision during the Dec. 21 box office weekend. “Aquaman” is part of the DC Cinematic Universe, while “Bumblebee” is a spin-off from the “Transformers” franchise.

Regional MVPs Anna Daniels among Players of the Year, 1B

INDEX Classifieds..............................................................5B Live&Loud.............................................................4B Sports.............................................................................. 1B Puzzles.........................................................................4B

MINT HILL – Imagine having a dream and the desire to go after it, but for some reason, life keeps telling you “not now.” That’s how Katherine DePrater felt whenever she started to pursue her idea for a do-it-yourself craft boutique that offers classes. The Mint Hill mom and longtime Coca-Cola employee really wanted to open her own business, but heartache from a divorce, followed by grief from the death of her father, caused her to push that dream aside. This year, she decided it was now or never and opened The Gift Workshop at 8329 Fairview Road on Black Friday. “One thing my dad always used to say to me was,

The Gift Workshop also sells prefabricated artwork and gifts. Karie Simmons/MMHW photo

County keeps picking at health department scab by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

CHARLOTTE – Mecklenburg County commissioners have called for the creation of a committee to make recommendations about the governance of the health department, followCotham ing past gaffes. County Manager Dena Diorio said the conversation started a couple of years ago after the health department didn't notify some women of cervical cancer screening results. Shortly after, Fuller the health director resigned. “We had a lot of issues at the health department, and there were some board members who may still think this – the governance is not sufficient and that if we had better governance over the health department, that might not have happened.” Currently, county commissioners govern a consolidated human services agency (health and social services departments), placing it under the authority of the county manager who appoints a director. Commissioners have a few options to change the governance, including

NFL veteran gives pep talk to kids by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

CHARLOTTE – From his days as a high school football player in Alabama to his 11 seasons in the NFL, putting on a helmet was an almost daily routine for Roman Harper. On Dec. 13, Harper gave out some helmets to deserving kindergarten and first-grade students at Idlewild Elementary School. But these helmets came with a free bike for a group of happy students that

see SCAB, Page 5A

CA N DLEL IGH T M O N DAY, D EC E M B E R 2 4

Roman Harper, who played for the Carolina Panthers when they last reached the Super Bowl in 2015, was excited to give away bikes from Academy Sports. Paul Nielsen/MMHW photo

CHRIS T M A S

see NFL, Page 4A

Idlewild Elementary School rewarded kindergarten and first grade students with the chance to meet NFL champion Roman Harper and get bikes. Paul Nielsen/MMHW photo

E V E

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Page 2A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018

NEWS BRIEFS

IN THE KNOW PHOTO OF THE WEEK STAY CONNECTED • Twitter: @mmhweekly • Like us on Facebook • Web: matthewsminthill weekly.com • E-edition: issuu.com/car olinaweeklynewspapers

Charlotte Christian varsity boys' basketball coach Shonn Brown recently earned his 400th career win. In 19 seasons, Brown tallied 12 CISAA conference championships, 15 NCISAA Tournament appearances and one state championship title. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Christian

PUBLISHER Adrian Garson

MOST POPULAR STORIES

NEWS EDITOR Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

• Hunt focuses on education, health care • New-look Patriots are starting to click • Tree falls on vehicle, killing driver • Mint Hill Arts announces Litaker winners • Matthews Police investigate armed robbery at gas station

TWEETS OF THE WEEK • “How are those holiday decorations coming along? Don't forget that we want to see! Keep sharing your photos with us on Instagram (@mecklenburgcounty) using the hashtag #MeckDeckTheHalls for a chance to be featured on our page!” – Mecklenburg County (@MeckCounty) • “Tell us one career that you've always wanted. And...GO!” – Central Piedmont CC ‫@(‏‬cpcc)

UPCOMING EDITIONS • Dec. 28: New Year's • Jan. 4: Looking Ahead

MANAGING EDITOR Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com CONTENT PRODUCER Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com ART DIRECTOR Kylie Sark art@cmgweekly.com ADVERTISING Charlotte Conway Kate Kutzleb adsales@cmgweekly.com PRESS RELEASES justin@cmgweekly.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR justin@cmgweekly.com

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Tom Cannon and Mayor Paul Bailey present the award to Michael Rusho. Cannon chairs the Matthews Military Veterans Affairs Committee, which created the award. Photo courtesy of Town of Matthews

Town names Rusho its Veteran of the Year MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews recognized Michael Rusho as the 2018 Matthews Veteran of the Year for his dedication to the betterment of the community. Rusho graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1974 and became an Army aviator. He served in Operation Desert Shield and Storm before retiring as an Army major in 1994. After moving to Matthews, Rusho became involved in community service groups, including the Boy Scouts of America, American Legion Post 235 and Matthews Rotary Club.

Lennar Homes has plans for 115 acres in Mint Hill MINT HILL – Mint Hill commissioners unanimously voted Dec. 14 to annex three parcels into the town. Two of the three parcels are on Brief Road, while the third is on Beckley Place. Lennar Homes proposes to build a new subdivision on the three properties, which encompasses 115 acres, according to Town Manager Brian Welch. Lennar has developed two other communities close to Mint Hill, with home prices ranging from the high $200,000s to the mid$300,000s.

CrossFit may wind up in business park MINT HILL – Bailey Patrick is requesting a zoning change that would allow a health club, spa or gymnasium in the Clear Creek Business Park. The proposed fitness center would occupy about 5,000 square feet of a speculative 24,000-square foot building in the park. Patrick said four or five tenants could go in the building. About 100 acres remain in the park that are suitable for industrial development. “We are trying to get some development activity within the park,” Patrick told town commissioners Dec. 14. “We have been approached from one of the CrossFit franchises. These office-warehouse buildings often work well for their use. The fitness craze is a very popular trend right now in our community.”

Five players return to CLT Independence roster CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Independence professional soccer team announced five players will return for the upcoming season. Midfielder Alex Martinez, 27, returns for his fifth season. Martinez tallied 77 tackles and 1,403 passes in 29 starts. Defender Joel Johnson, 26, returns for his fourth season. Johnson contributed two assists and 111 crosses in a team high 2,586 minutes played. Midfielder Kevan George, goalkeeper Brandon Miller and midfielder Jake Areman return for their second seasons. George, 28, tallied 1,396 passes and a 84.7 percent pass-accuracy rate. He netted two goals including the game-winner versus Nashville SC, and led the club with 57 intercepted passes. Miller, 28, overcame a broken wrist in the pre-season. The Charlotte Country Day alum

had 20 starts with two clean sheets. Areman, 22, notched two goals, including the game-winner against the Richmond Kickers. Midfielder Yann Ekra and forward Eamon Zayed signed with other teams. Former defender Donnie Smith has joined the front office as he pursues further education at UNC Charlotte.

Dixon joins the Charlotte Independence coaching staff CHARLOTTE – Independence Head Coach Jim McGuinness added Dave Dixon as an assistant coach. Dixon served as head coach for USL League 2 side Charlotte Eagles from 2014 to 2017. The 2015 PDL Coach of the Year won back-to-back South Atlantic Championships. After the 2017 championship, Dixon became an assistant coach for Indy Eleven. He has served as the coaching director for Charlotte Soccer Academy Matthews.

Leaders happy with staff during winter storm MINT HILL – Several Mint Hill commissioners commended the work of the town’s public works, police and fire departments during the recent ice storm. A combination of ice, sleet and snow brought down dozens of trees and utility lines across Mint Hill, and as much as 50 percent of the town was without power during and after the storm. “I have always said we have the best police department, the best fire department anywhere in the state of North Carolina and maybe the United States,” Commissioner Mike Cochrane said. “Those public works guys also worked their behinds off this past week. They were first-responders, as much as anybody and those guys did a great job.”

Commissioners heading out of town for retreat CHARLOTTE – County commissioners plan to hold a board retreat next month at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. The event will be streamed live so citizens can follow issues. Commissioner Pat Cotham questioned the expense of going out of town for the retreat, when there are plenty of park and recreation facilities that would be just as effective. “I'm just concerned about the taxpayer dollars,” Cotham said. Chairman George Dunlap replied this group of commissioners, with four new members, wanted to talk openly and honestly with one another and not feel the need to run home during the retreat to take care of personal matters.

James earns Order of Hornet CHARLOTTE – Bill James was awarded the Order of the Hornet, the highest honor bestowed by county commissioners, for his 22 years of service as an elected official. James was not present to receive the award Dec. 4. Others receiving it were outgoing commissioners Matthew Ridenhour and Dumont Clarke. Jim Puckett previously received the award years ago.

Leake apologizes for making cringe-inducing noose comment CHARLOTTE – County Commissioner Vilma Leake apologized Dec. 11 for using a phrase with racially insensitive undertones while talking about accountability of the Leake health department. Leake was talking during a committee meeting about the importance of commissioners relying on the knowledge of trained experts on healthcare, alluding to how she's more of a figurehead that visits hospitals and grave sites. But her remarks took a grim tone. “All I'm saying to us is we have to have somebody to put the noose around their neck, and I always say that heads need to roll,” Leake said. “And that's what I mean.”

Leake's remarks prompted Chairman George Dunlap's eyebrows to raise and shoulders to lean back. Leake saw Dunlap chuckling and told him she'd wrap up her comments. “My concern is about that noose,” he said, as he put his left hand on her shoulder and laughed. “Oh, I'm sorry. That was the wrong word. That was the wrong word,” Leake said. “I apologize when I said that because people have used that openly to mean to hang us on trees and what have you. So I certainly did not mean that at all. I would not dare to equate that to what we're trying to do here. So please accept my apology. and don't put it in the paper. Please don't put it in the paper, because if you do, I will slap the hell out of you.”

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018 • Page 3A

I’m grateful for all the experiences in the past three years – the good, the bad and the ugly – because they landed me here.”

DIY

(continued from page 1A)

with her girlfriends. Although she enjoyed the classes, DePrater realized she was running out of wall space to hang her masterpieces. There should be a place in Mint Hill for people to make other crafts and DIY projects, she thought. She drafted the business plan and vowed to put it into motion the following year, but 2016 wasn’t too kind to her. DePrater went through a divorce and had to transition into life as a single mom. “The first night when my son went to stay with his father, the house had never been so quiet,” she said. “The silence was piercing, so I went into my garage and just started tinkering. I would watch DIY videos and make things. I did that every other weekend and that’s how I healed.” DePrater started crafting just for herself, and then for other people. Soon, she was taking orders in large quantities and she could feel the desire to open her business burning once again. She told herself 2017 would be the year. Those plans were derailed again when her father died on Dec. 16, 2016. He had been battling pulmonary fibrosis, an autoimmune disease that creates scarring in the lungs. Over time, the scar tissue can destroy normal lungs and make it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. DePrater didn’t leave her father’s side during his final days. They talked about life, love and the hopes and dreams he had for each person in their family. “The last thing he said to me was, ‘You need to find a way to bring people together and that’s how you’ll find healing in the next coming years,’” she said. When he died, DePrater was devastated. She took time to grieve with her siblings and comfort her mother, putting her business dreams back on the shelf once again. Fast forward to the beginning of this

• Katherine DePrater year. DePrater had just returned from a work trip when she learned that Coca-Cola, where she had been employed for over a decade, would be going through a corporate reorganization with possible layoffs. She realized it was the perfect time to leave the company and finally go for what she wanted. Armed with years of experience in brand management, she dusted off the old business plan for The Gift Workshop and thought, “It’s now or never.” It’s been roughly a month since the grand opening and so far, DePrater said, people are loving the classes. They are held in the evenings Wednesday through Sunday and cost between $50 and $75 per person with opportunities for customization and special add-ons. DePrater provides all the tools and materials for the projects, and either she or another teacher walks the class through with step-by-step instructions. This year, DePrater has hosted sign, jewelry and candle-making classes in her workshop. She plans to expand to sewing and custom pillow and bag-making next year, as well as offer more kid-friendly classes. She does some pop-up events at local restaurants and bars, but is dreaming up some type of mobile workshop truck for the future. “During my classes, I’ll see a mom and daughter making a Lazy Susan for their brother who got married, a couple on a date and friends having a girls night and I just love it,” DePrater said. “My dad was very right when he said that creating moments and being a part of moments is what will bring me joy.” Want to go? The Gift Workshop, located at 8329 Fairview Road in Mint Hill, is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 to 9 p.m. on Sundays, although closing times depend on evening class schedules. For more information, visit www. facebook.com/thegiftworkshopnc, or sign up for a class at www.schedulicity. com/scheduling/TGW75K.

Mint Hill Arts showcases instructors at town hall

• Mila Antonyuk has worked as an artist and art instructor in Ukraine and Estonia. For the last 30 years, her passion has been teaching students to appreciate the beauty in everyday surroundAntonyuk ings and translate it into an art form. Antonyuk is a member of Carolina Clay Matters Pottery Guild. She teaches drawing and painting classes at Mint Hill Arts.

MINT HILL – Mint Hill Arts continues showcasing the work of teachers at its fourth quarter exhibit at Mint Hill Town Hall. The exhibit, “Art by the Teachers at Mint Hill Arts,” varies by medium and subject matter. The public may view the exhibit 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays in December on first and second floors at Mint Hill Town Hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane. Here are some of the artists you'll encounter: • Cindy Angelelli creates mixed media artwork that enables people to affordably express their individualism. She incorporates original photography, fabric, found objects and paint into colorful, Angelelli textural works. She enjoys teaching mixed-media techniques because they help novices become more confident and experienced artists expand their repertoire.

• Marty Stewart grew up in South Korea and learned traditional Asian watercolor art, using rice paper and ink. She raised her family in Virginia, where she studied under watercolorist Lassie Corbett. She Stewart teaches watercolor classes. Go to www.minthillarts.org or visit the gallery at 11205 Lawyers Road to see courses and samplers offered.

• Jan Schopen is a colored pencil artist who grew up in the Midwest. She has worked as a potter, created set designs for theater and taught computer art to children. Schopen started working Schopen with colored pencils only recently, yet her pictures depict intense colors, extreme contrasts in values and precise detail. She teaches drawing and colored pencil skills.

Page 4A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018

FAITH (continued from page 1A)

like my Craftsman screwdrivers. Instead, it was wood and painted red. It wasn’t securely fastened into an acrylic handle. Rather there was a nail going through the handle to secure it to the shaft. The blade was hammered out to resemble a screwdriver blade. It wasn’t heat treated as my Craftsman screw drivers were. If you put the blade

on a screw, you could turn the handle, the blade would twist, and the screw would not turn. While trying to show gratitude on my face, I said to myself, “My wife wasted $1.08 (including tax) on this screwdriver. I’ll just lose it behind the workbench, so it doesn’t get mixed up with my good Craftsman screwdrivers.” Just as I said that, my happy son bounded off the couch, snuggled up to me and said, “Do you know why I got you that screwdriver? I

lost your good Craftsman screwdriver and I wanted to replace it.” Just as quick as he came up to me, he went back to play with his toys. For me, everything stopped. It was one of those God moments when I realized what I had communicated to my son, “If you put back my Craftsman screwdrivers, then I will love you. If you don’t put them back or they get lost, then I will withhold my love. Since the message of Christmas is the gift of God’s unconditional love, my

parenting contradicted that message. I was appalled at my behavior. That screwdriver never fell behind the workbench never to be seen again. Rather, I found a special place to show it off. For years, I proudly displayed it in my office adjacent to three spikes my pastor gave me after a Good Friday service. When visitors came to my office, they would say, “I understand the three spikes, but what is it with the screwdriver?” My response was simply this,

Left: Aaron Worley, a senior at Hampton College, received honorable mention in painting for his pastel “Date Night in Sleepy Town.” The self-taught artist enjoys pastels because they are “frustrating and messy with a steep learning curve.”

Four students earn awards at art show MINT HILL – Four artists stood out among the winners of the 2018 Ann and Bill Litaker Show during the Dec. 7 opening reception at the Mint Hill Arts Gallery. That's because they were students.

Right: Maria Miller, a sixth-grader at Mint Hill Middle School, won honorable mention in painting for her acrylic, “Harry Potter Owl.” She took art lessons in Russia while visiting for the summer after fourth grade. Gouache is her favorite medium.

Left: Sarah Hinson, a freshman at Central Piedmont Community College, was awarded an honorable mention for her clay sculpture, “Hanahaki,” which was her first attempt at sculpture. Hinson took art courses at Independence High School.

Bottom right: Samuel Doejaaren, a junior at Piedmont High School, placed third for his photograph, “OverheadFountain.” The photograph was taken with a drone. Doejaaren has owned drones for years, mowing lawns to earn money to upgrade them. He also taught himself photo editing.

Mint Hill Arts announces Litaker winners MINT HILL – Mint Hill Arts awarded Best in Show for its Ann and Bill Litaker Exhibit to Luis Ardila for his oil painting “The Piper of Harlem.” Greg Scott, who teaches art at the Cornwell Center at Myers Park Baptist Church, served as the judge. Ninety-two pieces of art were judged, with 21 awards presented in the following categories: • Painting: Maria Parnell, first place; Ginny Edelen, second place; Carol Clayton, third place; Aaron Worley and Maria Miller, honorable mention. • Water Media: Rebecca McDuffie, first place; Sharron Burns,

second place; Suzanne Stewart, third place; Judy Mizell, honorable mention. • Photography: Sharon Houck, first place; Jennifer Benton, second place; Samuel Doejaaren, third place; and Carlos Pelay and Bill Feree, honorable mention. • Other Visual Arts: Natalia Leigh, first place; Barbara Gilmore, second place; Jaya Vegesna, third place; and Hue Parnell and Sarah Hinson, honorable mention. The gallery displays the exhibit 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays through Jan. 16 at the Mint Hill Arts Gallery, 11205 Lawyers Road.

“It’s one of my most treasured gifts. It’s what Christmas is all about.” They look confused, didn’t say a word, thought I lost it and just moved on. Have a very Merry Christmas. I’ll be back soon. Until then, live well my friend. The Rev. Tony Marciano is the president/CEO of the Charlotte Rescue Mission. He is available to speak to your group. Go to www.charlot terescuemission.org for details.

NFL (continued from page 1A)

have excelled in the classroom. In conjunction with Academy Sports, Harper helped give out 30 bikes and helmets to students at a ceremony attended by the students' family and friends. Academy’s bike donation program is in its 17th year and occurs throughout December across Academy's 16-state footprint. it will benefit more than 5,500 children this Christmas season. “We are celebrating the children who were selected by their teachers because of their hard work this school year, their positive attitude this school year,” Idlewild counselor Lauren White said. “They have given their best effort.” Harper, who played two of his 11 seasons in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, gave the students a pep talk and then posed for pictures. Harper and his family call the Charlotte region home. Harper played nine seasons with New Orleans, where he helped lead the Saints to a victory in Super Bowl XLIV. He also helped lead the Panthers to the Super Bowl in 2016. “This is my first time to this school and it is a beautiful campus,” Harper said. “The teachers and counselors are very committed to the kids.” Harper started his Harper’s Hope 41 Foundation in 2009. Its mission is to “prepare today’s youth for tomorrow’s challenges.” It tries to accomplish that through various educational and extracurricular activities. In addition, the foundation seeks partnership opportunities with other programs and organizations that share their mission. On the web: www.hope41.com.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018 • Page 5A

A glimpse into county manager's work Dena Diorio oversees a $1.7 billion budget as Mecklenburg County manager. Needless to say, she's tackling big-picture issues. She recently shared 10 items she'll be addressing over the coming year. Countywide reappraisal “Things are going very well on that, but obviously, FY19 is a big year, where we send out the notices of value and start working through all the appeals and questions and concerns that we get from residents.” Service delivery “This relates to our community resource center that we first opened in June, but we'll be working over the course of this year to start designing the second and the third community resource centers – really learning from the lessons of the first one and tailoring the service delivery in the next two to be responsive to the needs of the folks that live in those specific communities.” Future centers will include one in the eastern part of the county. Public health “We continue to work on several key initiatives as it relates to transforming our public health department. We've done a lot of work working around organizational change and change management, working

teer fire departments. It's not something we have done in the past but recognizing that volunteer fire department do provide services to a lot of unincorporated parts of the county, where we do have a lot of increase in population. We need to be responsible to those needs as we move forward.” Pre-kindergarten “We have almost 600 children enrolled this year. We're very excited about the progress we've made. In February, we'll open up a waiting list for next year. We're continuing to make sure we have the right number of kids and all the sites available to make sure we can continue to expand the program.” on our electronic medical records, our clinical care model delivery system and laboratory management.” HIV prevention “The big initiative there is our PrEP pilot, which we started last fiscal year and we're making some considerable progress on that during this fiscal year.” PrEP stands for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxi, a treatment to help prevent people most at risk of getting HIV. Information technology “Dec. 5 was our one year anniversary of when we got hacked. We continue to do a lot of work on hardening our infrastructure and doing a lot of things around IT security and data security to make our systems more secure than they were a year ago.” Volunteer fire departments “We have been getting a lot of requests from volunteer fire departments to use tax dollars for capital projects. We are working on what a good financial model looks like as it relates to doing capital work for volun-

Crisis management “We had started last year to put together a crisis management plan for county manager's office and the county. We want to be able to make sure that when we do have a crisis, that we have everything in place to be able to respond effectively. Equity inclusion “We talked about that since we had the riots in Mecklenburg County in 2016 about our need to look at equity and inclusion within our county and making sure all the services we provide are free of inequity and bias. We have a consultant also that's helping us to put together training for our employees and looking at our policies and procedures to ensure that we don't provide services that don't include any kind of inherent bias.” Annual budget “We'll begin looking at the FY20 budget. That takes a lot of time and resources for me and the staff.”

Girl Scouts begin digital, in-person cookie sales

CHARLOTTE – The Girl Scouts from the Hornets’ Nest Council kicked off door-to-door and digital cookie sales Dec. 15 in its eight-county region including Mecklenburg and Union. Booth sales begin Feb. 8. Digital cookies allow purchasers to order through a Girl Scout’s personalized website or mobile app. Cookies ordered digitally typically arrive

“

Who do you want in charge? Do you want a committee that you have absolutely no control over in charge or do you want the manager in charge?" • Chairman George Dunlap

SCAB (continued from page 1A)

creating a new board that oversees the consolidated human services department. Commissioners Pat Cotham, Trevor Fuller and Elaine Powell said they believe a deep dive is necessary for commissioners. Chairman George Dunlap said after many years of discussion, Powell the issue boils down to who is in charge. “We've looked at it and looked at it,” Dunlap said. “We've all come down on the same side every time: Who do you want in charge? Do you Dunlap want a committee that you have absolutely no control over in charge or do you want the manager in charge?” Dunlap prefers the manager to be in charge, but he supported the idea of forming the committee so commissioners understand the department better. Fuller said the county must figure out the appropriate way to be held accountable and how commissioners respond when the public asks what are they doing to ensure public health is working in Mecklenburg County. The discussion came out of the commission's Dec. 11 budget public policy committee meeting.

within three to five days. Cookies ordered through traditional methods are expected to arrive in mid-February. “Cookie season kick-off is full of anticipation for the skills the girls will learn and implement, for the opportunities to grow, and to see them reach for meaningful goals,” said Angela Woods, CEO of the Hornets’ Nest Council. Visit www.hngirlscouts.org/en/cookies/ about-girl-scout-cookies/meet-our-cookies. html for details.

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Page 6A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018

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SPORTS Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018 • Page 1B

GIRLS TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: ANNA DANIELS

Fall sports athletic awards by Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly recognizes top athletes in their respective sports with Player of the Year awards.

Covenant Day senior tennis star Anna Daniels helped turn around the Lions program and earned her four consecutive all-state nominations. She is heading to UNC Wilmington. Andrew Stark/MMHW photo

Rare four-peat speaks to Daniels’ impact by Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com

MATTHEWS – In the 2013 season, the Covenant Day boys tennis team went unbeaten and earned the top seed in the state’s premier private-school division. The Lions would lose in the semifinals, but it didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things because that season changed the trajectory of the program that has remained one of the state’s top since. But the girls hadn’t been so successful. In 2014, the Lions squeaked in the back door of the playoffs with a 4-7 record to get the No. 11 seed, but were easy first-round prey losing 7-2. The next season, all of that changed from the very first match of the year thanks in large part to the arrival of then-freshman Anna Daniels.

already as they went 10-5 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Daniels was fantastic on her No. 1 line and earned all-state honors as a freshman. In 2016, the Lions were 12-4, and like the boys, made it to the semifinals of the state. Last season, they were 13-1 and again semifinalists with Daniels leading the way. The Lions were 8-7 this season, but Daniels has been the one constant throughout all the four-year run that has put the Lions in a different class of teams. She was also an all-state selection each of those three seasons, earning the rare allstate four-peat. It’s unknown how many other private-school players have achieved the accolade, but only four girls have ever done it in the history of the NCHSAA, the state’s governing body of public schools, so you’d have to assume not many. “It’s a payoff for the hard work, I guess,”

“

“Our team is so close together and we have such a close bond so win or lose we’re so proud of each other,” she said. “I think that’s an encouraging thing for our team because we always try to go out there and put out our best fight and whatever happens, happens. “We did a lot. We won the conference championship in my sophomore year and that had never happened. We beat Country Day, Providence Day and Charlotte Latin – teams that we’d never beaten before – so it was very encouraging. And it was fun.” Ranked No. 9 in North Carolina’s Class of 2018 and a three-star recruit by Tennisrecruiting.net, Daniels attracted the attention of schools like Sewanee, Washington and Lee and Wofford but ultimately chose to be a member of the five all-North Carolina girls freshmen class going to UNC Wilmington.

We did a lot. We won the conference championship in my sophomore year and that had never happened. We beat Country Day, Providence Day and Charlotte Latin - teams that we’d never beaten before - so it was very encouraging. And it was fun.”

• Anna Daniels, Covenant Day senior

“Anna brought a number of intangibles when she came out as a freshman in the fall of 2015 that helped to see the girls program begin to mirror the path that the boys program had established since 2012,” said Covenant Day coach George Wolbers. “She was a leader from Day 1, beginning with her win over Caroline Kurani, an all-state selection in 2014, in her first match at the Number 1 position.” For Daniels, that match was a welcome to the big leagues kind of moment that has helped frame a career that has since become one of the state’s all-time best. “It was definitely encouraging,” she said of defeating Kurani. “You go in and in my first match face someone with a title like that. It was a little like, ‘whoa’ to go into it, but after I realized we’re all here to play tennis and whatever the outcome is is what it is. It’s super fun, and it was a very good feeling.” From that very first match, Daniels has helped lift her game and raise the fortunes of the entire girls’ program. In 2015, the Lions were much improved

said Daniels, who has been playing since age 6 and playing seriously since about 8 or 9. “There has been a lot of years that have gone into this and it makes me very happy and very excited about it.” During her four years with the Lions, Daniels has racked up some impressive accomplishments. In addition to being the 2018 Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly Girls Tennis Player of the Year, Daniels is a fourtime all-conference and all-state pick and has accrued a 92-24 career record with the Lions. She’s also done a lot more than all of what she’s accomplished individually. “She displayed a can-do spirit that contributed greatly to dispelling the long-held myths believed by many that we could not quite measure up to Providence Day, Latin and Country Day,” Wolbers said. Daniels proved to be a program changer who will go down as the best-ever Covenant Day player and in rare air with her fourpeat of all-state awards. But, to Daniels, it’s more about what her team meant to her and she to it.

“I was looking at a lot of places, but UNC Wilmington was just such a great fit all around,” she said. “It was the perfect size, it has exactly what I want to study and I loved the team and the coaches. I’m so excited.” Daniels said she wants to study either healthcare management or exercise science at the beach, but has one more tennis stop before she arrives on campus. Through tennis, Daniels has become a big part of Aceing Autism, a program that’s held twice a year at Charlotte Latin. “Tennis has been a door opener for me,” Daniels said. “First of all, I’ve gotten to meet people that I otherwise never met in my life. It’s also exposed me to Aceing Autism where the community of tennis players has clinics for kids with autism. You expose them to tennis and to social interaction, and I never would have known about that had I not played tennis. I love it, and it’s become such a big part of my life. “Tennis is something that’s been fun for me and I’m really excited to get to UNC Wilmington.”

Kelley Topiwala, golf Carmel Christian • Why she was chosen: Topiwala made sure Carmel Christian’s first season with a competing team counted. The junior starred all season atop the Cougar lineup and turned it up when it mattered most as she placed fourth overall in the NCISAA Division II field. With teammates Bethany Welch and Annalise Rice, Topiwala and the Cougars became the first girls team to win a team championship in any sport. • What they’re saying: “She’s not real big and may not be as long as some of the other girls off the tee, but she hits the ball straight down the middle and her short game is tremendous,” said Carmel Christian coach Bill Smith. “She’s been a great developer of her game and an inspirer to me. But she’s really an inspiration to the girls because she’s such an encourager. She has a great smile all the time, keeps them upbeat and she shoots these low scores that let them know that they, too, are capable of great things.”

Lucas Brown, boys cross country Queens Grant • Why he was chosen: Brown came into the cross country season fresh off an outdoor 1,600-meter track title and showed from the start that he would build off that. He recorded an early top 10 time in the state with a 16:05 and ran a personal-best 16:01 at a meet in Cary. The No. 1-ranked 1A runner for much of the year, Brown won the regional championship by over 20 seconds ahead of the field. At the state meet, he held the lead for much of the race and finished fourth. • What they’re saying: “In terms of what makes Lucas deserving of this award, beyond being one of the top runners in the state and the results he posted, I would say Lucas is dedicated to his sport,” said Queens Grant coach Daniel Stein. “He has had steady improvement each and every year since his freshman year (and) has done so because he is willing to put in the time and attention needed to get the results. Lucas is an honors student, one of the captains on his cross country and track teams and displays good sportsmanship after crossing ever single finish line. I could not think of a more deserving athlete for your award.” Cvan Than, soccer Independence • Why he was chosen: Independence won see AWARDS, Page 3B

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Waxhaw 1315 N. Broome St. 704-243-2024

Matthews 11100 Monroe Rd. 704-841-2025

RAJUAN CONNOR BUTLER BASKETBALL

The senior had a double-double in Butler’s 48-46 overtime win over Rocky River that kept the Bulldogs perfect at 5-0. Connor had a game-high 13 points and added 10 rebounds - including five offensive - and an assist.

Page 2B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018

Butler emerges from GRAND SLAM USA battle of unbeatens

MOVING

by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

INDIAN TRAIL – Butler shutdown Porter Ridge scoring machine Cameron Stitt when it mattered most in a showdown between unbeaten Class 4A high school basketball teams on Dec. 18. Stitt entered the game averaging 21 points, but Butler held the 6-foot-8 senior to just four the first 24 minutes of the game. The Bulldogs used a 14-4 run that started late in the first half and extended into the second half to defeat the Pirates 77-66 in a Southwestern 4A Conference game. Butler (6-0) moves to 2-0 in conference heading into a pair of tournaments over the Christmas break. The Bulldogs return to league play on Jan. 4 at home against Myers Park, which also enters the break with a 2-0 league mark. On Jan. 8, Butler faces rival Independence. “I thought we did a really good job on Stitt because he is such a good player,” said Butler coach Myron Lowery. “We haven’t started the prettiest way possible, but we can take a deep breath going into these tournaments. These tournaments are going to be a challenge for us. We have a lot of work to do to get better.” The loss was the first for Porter Ridge and first-year coach Garrett Malone. Porter Ridge was just 10-14 last season and Stitt is the only returning starter but the Pirates have been impressive early in the season. Raquan Brown scored a career high 33 points for Butler and the senior scored 12 points in the third period as the Bulldogs took a 54-36 lead to the final eight minutes of play. Rajuan Connor added 15 points for the Bulldogs while Jordan McPhatter scored 14 points. Porter Ridge took a 24-21 lead on a layup by Grayson McCall with 3 minutes, four seconds remaining in the first half. But Connor scored four points, including a slam dunk, and McPhatter added a 3-pointer as Butler closed out the first half with a 9-2 run for a 30-26 lead at halftime. Brown then hit a pair of 3-pointers in the third period and McPhatter added another three as the Bulldogs pulled away for an 18-point lead going to the fourth period.

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Porter Ridge's Deshawn Scarboro (0) and Butler's Rajuan Connor battle for a rebound on Dec. 18. Paul Nielsen/MMHW photo

Butler scored 10-unanswered points in under two minutes in the third for the commanding lead. “We finally started executing our plays,” Lowery said of the Bulldogs’ run. “We were trying to run, but the transition wasn’t there. We finally realized that and we started pulling back, executing plays and getting the ball where we wanted and to who we wanted. In the third quarter, we jumped on them and grabbed the momentum. Raquan was in a little foul trouble but that is when he came back and really turned it on.” Butler finished with six 3-pointers in the game and they hit five during their run that gave them an 18-point cushion. “They were momentum for us and it sucked a little air out of Porter Ridge,” Lowery said. “We also finally got some stops which our defense turned into some transition baskets, especially for Raquan.” Stitt finished the game with 20 points after a 16-point performance the final eight minutes. Isaiah Williams added 14 points for the Pirates while Marcus Willis finished with 12 points.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018 • Page 3B

AWARDS (continued from page 1B)

seven straight matches down the stretch and made it to the third round of the playoffs in Than’s swansong. The senior led the Patriots with 22 goals and also added five assists to close his career as one of the best players to ever don the green and gold. The two-time all-state selection leaves the Patriots with 65 career goals and 17 career assists, but did most of his damage with 53 scores over the past two seasons. • What they’re saying: “The longer the season wore on, I started to realize that it was the consistency he showed game in and game out,” Independence coach Tyler Gibson said of his scoring outburst last season. “That’s what the biggest thing was. He got his chances, and he kept putting them away. He did it all season long. “Teams are responding to him and are definitely guarding him differently. Because of that, he may not finish with the same numbers that he had last year, but he’s still having a huge impact on the field and with what we’re doing.”

Megan Frost, field hockey Myers Park • Why she was chosen: We’re just giving one regional award for field hockey since not all teams participate in the sport, but there is no doubt Frost is the correct choice. The four-time team MVP and all-state performer has led the Mustangs to three straight state titles, this one scoring the only goal in the 1-0 championship game to earn MVP honors and close out the Mustangs first-ever unbeaten season. The Stanford commit scored 34 goals and dished out 25 assists this season and ended her career with 115 total career goals and 85 career assists. • What they’re saying: “For her to have the game winner in a tight game kind of made it all come full circle,” Myers Park coach Erica Adcock said. “It kind of capped off a great season and a great career for her. It was special.” Caroline Boyce, volleyball Carmel Christian • Why she was chosen: The Cougars went 11-4 this fall on the volleyball court and the four-year starter was perhaps the biggest reason why. Boyce did everything well for the Cougars, leading the team in kills (221) and service aces (32) while placing second on the team in digs (176). For

her career, Boyce accumulated 804 digs, 710 kills and 166 aces. • What they’re saying: "Caroline has been a player that knew what she wanted at an early age and committed to making herself better. She spent hours coming to preseason workouts,” said Carmel Christian coach Karen Bradbury. “She never missed an in-season practice in the six years I coached her. She always demonstrated self-discipline and strong work ethic by playing club volleyball, attending volleyball clinics, as well as taking private lessons on the side. She devoted herself to becoming better in all aspects of her game through hard work and dedication. Caroline's strong Christian values are a gift to the other girls on the team. She leads through example and love."

Tate Arrington, girls cross country Providence • Why she was chosen: Arrington has quickly ascended to become one of the leaders of the pack as a freshman this year. She won the So. Meck 7 conference meet with a personal-best run of 19:56, which is the 23rd-fastest time recorded by a freshman in the state this season, but she didn’t stop there. Arrington blazed a 19:59 run at the western regional which was good for ninth place and broke 20 minutes at the state meet to place 47th. Big things are on the horizon for this talented freshman, who is the only rookie in any sport to win an award from Charlotte Media Group this fall. • What they’re saying: “Tate made the transition from middle school athletics to the demands of high school varsity cross country without any problems or setbacks,” said Providence coach Steven Touranjoe. “She trained incredibly hard and was our number one runner all season, and I’m looking forward to building on her 19:57 PR for next season.”

Steve Smith Sr. helps provide kids with shopping spree by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

PINEVILLE — Growing up, Steve Smith Sr. was an angel kid, which meant donors to such organizations as the Salvation Army helped provide Smith and his family with Christmas gifts and other support. Now after a successful 16-year NFL career, the Waxhaw resident has made it a mission to give back to the Charlotte region that he calls home. Smith, along with Dick’s Sporting Goods, provided 10 students from LifeHoops with a shopping spree Dec. 12 at Dick’s Sporting Goods. LifeHoops is a Charlotte-based nonprofit founded by Red Ventures CEO Ric Elias in 2017. It combines basketball, mentorship and academics to empower students to become leaders in their communities. In partnership with the Charlotte YMCA, LifeHoops looks to create a safe after-school environment where students can accelerate their academic achievements, learn what it means to be a part of a team and enhance their basketball skills under the guidance of the organization’s coaching staff. Dick’s provided each student with a $100 gift card. Smith and his Smith Family Foundation gave the students another $100 for their shopping spree. Smith played for the Carolina Panthers for 13 seasons and has been a resident of the region for 19 years. He is the Panthers’ all-time leader in total touchdowns (67), receptions (836) and receiving yards (12,197). Smith said his goal is to give back to a community that has been so good to him and his family. “The only reason I was able to go to college was because someone else invested in me,” Smith said. “I had a (football) scholarship to go to Utah and because of that, I got to go to the University of Utah and that allowed me to get drafted. This is exactly what my family does. This is who we are. It is something I believe in and it is something I have done. This isn’t an event, this is a lifestyle for me. This is our community, and this community gave me something. I am ingrained in this community.” After addressing the kids from LifeHoops, Smith, who helped the students with their shopping, gave the extra $100 to each student because he wanted to make sure the students were able to buy everything they needed. He also did it to make

After 16 years in the NFL, Steve Smith Sr. (right) has great insight on how well certain shoes hold up to the rigors of high-level sports. Paul Nielsen/MMHW photos

an impression on the students. “I understand it is the holiday season and it is about giving,” Smith said. “I have been given something. To much is given, much is expected. These kids didn’t expect this, but I also know that Dick’s is a fine sporting goods store. These are growing boys. Look at their feet, they have some big feet. At the end of day, some of these kids are going to do something special. I want this moment to speak to them so they can do the same. It’s about paying it forward.” Nick Trull, operations director for LifeHoops said the shopping spree and meeting Smith was a “big day” for the students. “We have five locations across Charlotte,” Trull said. “We have a staff of 10 guys to help push our mission of building pillars of respect, education and basketball or soccer. We engage with kids that want to get better. Steve can really plug in with these kids because of where he came from.” Smith, and his wife, Angie, formed their foundation in 2013, and it is dedicated to providing hope and inspiration to people in need. Part of the foundation is the Smith Family Wellness Center in Charlotte, which is a clinic that has provided nearly 4,000 free medical and counseling appointments. The foundation has many events throughout the year, including the Strikeout Domestic Violence fundraiser, which is a bowling event to raise money to help end domestic violence. “This is one of the many different events that I am doing,” Smith said. “This is the place where I live. This is my home, this is where my kids are being raised. This is who I am, and I enjoy doing it.” Smith and his family are also helping angel tree kids this Christmas season. “We have adopted two or three families the same size that my family is,” Smith said.

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Page 4B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018

DINING SCORES Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties inspected the following restaurants Dec. 7 to 13:

Matthews

ship Pkwy. – 98.5 • Sub Station, 11500 E. Independence Blvd. – 94 • Thai Taste, 131 Matthews Station St. – 96.5

• Happy's Grill, 9229 Lawyers Road – 97 • Jersey Mike's, 7028 Brighton Park Drive – 96 • Jimmie's Restaurant, 7024 Brighton Park Drive – 95.5 • Kabab King, 7102 Brighton Park Ave. – 97 • Pizza Hut, 9229 Lawyers Road – 97

• Dorian's Deli & Grill, 1240 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 98 Mint Hill • Monterrey Mexican Restaurant, • Circle K, 9201 Lawyers Road – 96 9623 E. Independence Blvd. – 96 • Earp's Amoco, 7930 Fairview • Osaka Japanese Restaurant, Road – 98.5 3531 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 96.5 • El Valle, 9229 Lawyers Road – The 97.5 New York Times Syndication SalesCharlotte Corporation (28227) • Panera Bread, 1904 Matthews 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 Township Pkwy. – 98.5 • Food Lion produce, 8118 Blair • 7-Eleven, 4300 Wilgrove-Mint For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 • Starbucks, 1811 Matthews Town- Road – 100 Hill Road – 97.5

For Release Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Crossword ACROSS 1 Damage beyond repair 6 Talk trash about 10 Cheerleader’s handful 14 Jong who wrote “Fear of Flying” 15 Amy Winehouse, vocally 16 Obama’s stepfather ___ Soetoro 17 Ice cream parlor orders 18 Marx with a curly wig 19 Still competitive 20 Belch fumes, say 22 “Holy smokes!” 23 Genius Bar staffer 24 Ultraliberals, to ultraconservatives 27 Ian McKellen’s role in “X-Men” movies 30 Instagram upload, for short

ANSWER B O L T I T O O D O U G H I G S L O V E A N I H E L P H A L L M E A T L E X I A R E N G I N U S C A M

31 Busy hosp. sites

58 ___ Clooney, human rights 32 Soviet labor lawyer camp 59 Survey 35 Game fish that 60 Marsupial with a can breathe air grasping tail 39 Place to board a 64 Barely ahead bus or train 65 Bird in Egyptian 41 Certain mailing hieroglyphics address, for short 67 It may be at the … or a hint to 14 end of one’s rope squares in this 68 Fizzling puzzle fireworks 43 “___ Means I Love You” (1968 69 Explorer Hernando de ___ top 10 hit by the 70 Atlas close-up Delfonics) 71 Goddess with 44 Underworld cow’s horns boss? 72 Merino mothers 46 Places for 73 Pre-1917 channel surfers autocrats 48 Long of “Alfie,” 2004 DOWN 49 Underworld boss 1 Something to 51 Mixed martial keep in a band? arts cage shape 2 Taken in tablet form, say 53 One doing a locker room 3 Work with a plow interview 4 Do something about TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 5 End of a relay race B L O C A B A S E L A L A C A M U S 6 Scroogian exclamation U T A H T R O M P 7 Alternative to H D E F I N I T I O N Dollar or Budget O G L I V E 8 Leave in financial R E X P L A I N E D difficulty N O V A A D D O N 9 Dr. Seuss book N I N T H S N U B that introduces S D A U B A S A phonics N I N G O F L I F E 10 Like cartoons on O D O F A C E the editorial page C O G R A P H E R S A G O G O A B O Y 11 Claude who painted water P I D E S G E N E lilies S N E S T E R G S 12 Coppers

Edited by Will Shortz 1

21 24

32 40

41 45

49 54

• Royal Biryani and Kabob, 9624 Monroe Road – 97

Charlotte (28270)

No. 0221

• Cafe One, 7520 E. Independence Blvd. – 98 • Chick-fil-A, 9010 Albemarle Road – 97.5 • Earp's Express, 7020 Brighton Park Drive – 99 • Hop Feng II, 9229 Lawyers Road – 97 • New China Taste, 8112 Idlewild Road – 95

35 42

46 51 56

43 47

PUZZLE BY ORI BRIAN AND ZACHARY SPITZ

13 Clothes closet pests 21 “Dig in!” 25 Hershey’s caramel candies 26 Take a load off 27 Rx items 28 Geometry calculation 29 Woman’s erogenous zone 33 Blood-typing letters 34 Like a lot

Indian Trail • China II, 5850 U.S. 74 E. – 97 • Johnny K's Restaurant, 138 N. Indian Trail Road – 94.5 • Sonic Drive-In, 14315 E. Independence Blvd. – 97 • Special Touch Catering and Deli, 1310 Wesley Chapel Stouts Road – 99 • Taqueria La Unica, 4305 Old Monroe Road – 99

LOUD&LIVE Dec. 21 • Evening Muse: The Orange Constant & Noonday Sons • Hickory Tavern (Ballantyne): DeCarlo • Milestone Club: Alright • Moochies Tavern: Caution Blind Driver • Queens South: Curbside Prophet • Snug Harbor: CL Smooth • Southern Range: Dan Staton Duo • Stooges Pub: Right Turn Clyde • Temple Mojo: Mark n’ Brian • Tin Roof: Phillip Michael Parsons & DJ Apollo • Trail House: Coconut Groove Band • Vintner’s Hill: Derek Murray • Visulite: The Sammies

Dec. 22

• Russell's Pub and Grill, 1609 Sardis Road N. – 94

36 Summoned, as a 53 Mecca native butler 54 Self-important, as an ass 37 Salk vaccine target 55 “Amazing” magician 38 Tandoor-baked bread 56 Nudge rudely 40 Like boorish 57 Always saying behavior “please,” say 42 Craft knife brand 61 Baseball’s Slammin’ Sammy 45 “Street Dreams” rapper 62 ___-friendly 47 “Hurry up!” 63 “Miracle” team of 1969 50 Relative of a dolphin 66 Call to the Coast Guard 52 Firebugs’ felonies

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

• Evening Muse: Mad Crush & Admiral Radio; Rat Poison • Hilton Vineyard: Ginger Stegall and Country Joe Blythe • Milestone Club: DJ Teddy & Mike Boyer • Neighborhood Theatre: Peter Rowan • Southern Range: Palmetto Road Band • Stooges Pub: Michael Tracy Band • Tin Roof: Cassidy Daniels • Trail House: Lipstick on a Pig • Visulite: Moose Kick

Dec. 23 • Snug Harbor: Bone Snugs-N-Harmony • Tin Roof: DJ Holla

Dec. 25 • Snug Harbor: Country Tuesday

Dec. 26 • Beantown Tavern, Chuck Johnson Duo • Evening Muse: Lucky Five • Snug Harbor: Pearl & The Charlotte Holding Company; RenElvis; Pearl

Dec. 27 • Evening Muse: The Moon Unit & The Goodnight Brothers • Neighborhood Theatre: Tavers Brothership and DownTown Abby and The Echos • Small Bar: Open mic w/ Barton Hollow

Mecklenburg Medical Group MORE THAN A DOCTOR’S OFFICE When you choose Atrium Health’s Mecklenburg Medical Group, you’re choosing more than a doctor. You’re choosing an entire network of world-class care – and peace of mind that you’re always getting what’s right for you.

Call 704-863-8299 or visit AtriumHealth.org/MMG to find a doctor near you.

• Snug Harbor: Le Bang • Tin Roof: Dynagroove

Venues Charlotte • Evening Muse: 3227 N. Davidson St. • Hickory Tavern (Ballantyne): 12210 Copper Way • Milestone Club: 3400 Tuckaseegee Road • Neighborhood Theatre: 511 E. 36th St. • Snug Harbor: 1228 Gordon St. • Tin Roof: 210 E. Trade St. • Visulite: 1615 Elizabeth Ave. Indian Trail • Trail House: 6751 Old Monroe Road Matthews • Beantown Tavern: 130 Matthews Station St. • Moochies Tavern: 15060 Idlewild Road • Small Bar; 4320 Potters Road • Temple Mojo: 195 N. Trade St. Mint Hill • Stooges Pub: 13230 Albemarle Road • Vintner’s Hill: 7427 Matthews-Mint Hill Road Monroe • Hilton Vineyard: 104 S. Main St. • Southern Range: 151 S. Stewart St. Waxhaw • Queens South: 1201 N. Broome St.

Spread the word about your next show! Contact us at 704-849-2261

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018 • Page 5B

Wanting to run a classified ad? CALL 704-849-2261 Monday - Friday. We accept credit cards.

Barnhardt Landscaping & Design

MISCELLANEOUS HERO MILES - to find out more about how you can help our service members, veterans and their families in their time of need, visit the Fisher House website at www. fisherhouse.org Acorn Stairlifts. The AFFORDABLE solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!**Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1-800211-9233 for FREE DVD and brochure. AVIATION GRADS WORK WITH JETBLUE, BOEING, DELTA, AND OTHERS- START HERE WITH HANDS ON TRAINING FOR FAA CERTIFICATION. FINANCIAL AID IF QUALIFIED. CALL AVIATION INSTITUTE OF MAINTENANCE 1-866-724-5403 SWITCH & SAVE EVENT from DirecTV! Packages starting at $19.99/mo. Free 3-Months of HBO, starz, SHOWTIME & CINEMAX FREE GENIE HD/DVR Upgrade! 2015 NFL Sunday Ticket Included with Select Packages. Some exclusions apply - Call for details 1-800-421-2049

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE WE ARE BUYING; Comics, Vinyl LP’s, Military items, Antiques, Collectibles & More. Stop by Precious Restorations in Downtown Matthews 315 W. John St. Tues-Sat. 104. 704 965-0074 or visit preciousrestorations.com. Address 2701 Kilborne Dr. Charlotte, NC 28205

• Paver Walkways, Patios • Retaining Walls • Fire Pits

• Stove Vaneer Work FREE • Landscape Lighting 3D RENDERING • Tree/Plant Installation OF YOUR PROJECT with signed contract - $850 value • Grading/Drainage Solutions

Free estimate over 22 years experience Licensed & Insured • All credit cards accepted

704-321-1600

www.barnhardtlandscaping.com

Oak China Cabinet 2 piece- 6’7” H x 4’1”W x 1’4” depth Good Condition. $300 Cash. 704 882-4496

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE 76” Wood Planer, Width Sanding Roller & Molding Cutter Roller: 220 Volt $1400 Kero-Sun Oil Heater $25 704 588-9249-Leave Message

Professional Interior Kelly’s gnPainting iPainting tniaPainting P s’ylleK Kelly’s and Handyman Service

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(704) 619-0253 ylleK neK “Affordable” 619-0253 Free rotarEstimates epO/renwO Custom(704) Moldings Picture Owner/Operator Free moc.rr.anilorac@gn itniaPsHanging ylleKEstimates LicensedKellysPainting@carolina.rr.com & Insured Drywall Repairs KellysPainting@carolina.rr.com Light Electric & Call today for a Plumbing Free Estimate Storage Solutions

Local & Long-Distance Moves Commercial & Residential Moves Packing & Unpacking Junk Removal Veteran Owned & Operated

(704) 619-0253

Ken Kelly Owner/Operator setamitsE eerF

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Veteran owned and operated

A+ BBB | DOT:A2998402 | NCUC: 4646 CALL TODAY FOR QUOTE! (704) 907-1777

The handy Man

FREE ESTIMATES • INSURED

Home Repair Neat, suoeClean, truoC Meticulous, dn& a eRemodeling miT-nO On-Time ,suoluciand teM Courteous ,naelC ,taeN Ken35Kelly 20-9Tile 16 )-40Wallpaper 7( (704) 619-0253 ylleK neK Ceramic Owner/Operator setamto itsERoof eerF& Carpet Free rotaEstimates repO/renwO Repairs KellysPainting@carolina.rr.com moc.rr.an& iloPlumbing rac@gnitniaPsylleK Paint - Minor Electrical Flooring - Carpentry - Bathrooms AND MORE!

704-560-5299

Repair & Replacement of: • Roofing • Siding • Gutters • Deck & Patio Repair/Paint • Carpentry • Rotten Wood Repair 20 years experience | All work is guaranteed

704-918-6248 • mctoolmanservices@gmail.com www.mctoolman.com Holiday Savings 10% off-Mention this ad. Exp: 1/15/2019

BF Construction Services and Light Grading

FINANCIAL

SERVICES General Painting Company—Affordable painting services! $80.00 per room. Our services include painting, sheet rock, installation, popcorn removal and repair, wall¬paper removal, pressure washing, handyman, light plumbing and electrical. We appreciate our cli¬ents. FREE ESTIMATES: (980)214-6048

VEHICLES FOR SALE TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1-800761-9396

Fully Insured • 20 Years Experience • Senior Discount

704-254-5381

Your Home Exterior Specialists

• Trail Building • Light Grading

• Trachoe

DeMARZO

HOME REPAIRS & IMPROVEMENTS Tony DeMarzo

Experienced s Insured s Reliable • PAINTING • ROT REPAIR • PLUMBING • FLOORING

CALL ANYTIME FOR FREE ESTIMATES

980-253-9496

• Small Dump Truck • Skid Loader

Fall is around the corner!

• ELECTRICAL • CERAMIC TILE • KITCHEN/BATH RENOVATIONS

CONCRETE WORK •••I G W T •••

FREE ESTIMATES

• Concrete Demo • Bush Hogging • Small Trees Cut • Footings

Call Bill

or call Betty

38 Years of Experience

704.315.9944 TIM BALOGH starelectric.Tim@gmail.com

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

Call Anytime!

980-622-7833

Dakota Glass

• RESIDENTIAL/COMMERCIAL • SERVICE/PANEL UPGRADES • NEW WIRING • LIGHTING & OUTLETS • 120 & 240 VOLT CIRCUITS • TROUBLESHOOTING & REPAIR • INSPECTIONS & VIOLATIONS • FREE ESTIMATES

rusT

Jerry@dunlapconcrete.com www.dunlapconcrete.com

**We are licensed and insured** **We have been in business for 20 years**

STAR ECTRIC EL

Jerry Dunlap (Dunlap Brothers)

980-240-7358

(704) 909-7561

Stamped Concrete • Decorative Concrete Driveways Basements • Carports • Patios • Sidewalks Concrete Repair • Slabs • Block and Brick Work Renovations • Roofing • Room Additions • Decks

704-622-6460

HELP WANTED

Beware of loan fraud. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

Drywall • Painting • Decks • Windows • Doors Framing • Roofing • Gutters • Siding Water Damage & All Types of Flooring • Tile Work Plumbing • Electrical • House Cleaning • Gutter Cleaning

Call Mitch

Custom Glass Specialist

PART TIME NEWSPAPER DRIVERS NEEDED - Candidates must have a clean driving record, proof of auto insurance and be able to lift 50-75 lbs. Additionally, the ideal candidate can work Thursday, Friday, or both and can make a long-term commitment to grow their workload and earnings. Must be able to pass DMV background check. For more information, please contact: adsales@ cmgweekly.com

For Service Directory advertising information e-mail Kate@cmgweekly or call 704-849-2261

HOLIDAY ORGANIZING AND DELIVERY

Kelly’s Painting

• Tractor MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

Your ad here for as low as $50 a week!

Specializing in Frameless Showers/Mirrors, Vinyl Replacement Windows & Foggy Broken Windows

704.573.3117 sales@dakotaglass.biz www.dakotaglass.biz

Licensed & Insured • Free estimates

Call now for a FREE lime application included in any aeration package purchased!

• Lawn mowing • Landscape design and installation • Core Aeration and over seeding • Fertilization and weed control • Clean ups • Mulch and pine needle installation • Leaf removal NOW SCHEDULING SEEDING AND CORE AERATION

See us on Facebook and Instagram

704-254-1321 clontslawncare@gmail.com

Your Best “STOP” For A Drip From a drip to a leak, turn to the Weekly Classifieds to turn those headaches off. Call to advertise (704) 849-2261

NOW HIRING Delivery Drivers! For our Union County Routes. Weekly Routes Available. Contact us at adsales@cmgweekly.com for details.

Page 6B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Dec. 21, 2018

SUPER GIGANTIC F F O % SALE 0 5 BRING IN ANY AD WE WILL BEAT THEIR PRICE!

WE BEAT AMAZON & INTERNET PRICING!

UP TO

WE TAKE TRADE IN S!

Third Generation Family Owned & Operated Kurt Seelig 82 years in business

Since 1937

ALL PRODUCTS FREE SHIPecPkINs G

OPEN SUNDAYS

CHARLOTTE

ARBORETUM SHOPPING CENTER

next to Harris Teeter

Rain Ch Available

3351 Pineville Matthews Rd. Suite 100 Charlotte

704-541-7488

www.cardinalcamera.com

10 OFF 20 OFF 40 OFF $

$100 PURCHASE

$200 PURCHASE

$400 PURCHASE

of Camera, Accessories & Lenses

Not to be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Exp. 1-5-19.

DOORBUSTER

a6000 2 LENS KIT!

with 16-50mm & 55-210mm lenses

649.99 $999.99-350= $649.99

999.99

549.99

$749.99-200= $549.99

DOORBUSTER T6

TOUGH TG-5

$449.99-70=

Three-Axis Motorized Gimbal Stabilizer Holds DSLR or Mirrorless Eight-Pound Payload Capacity

$1599.99-600= $999.99

DOORBUSTER 12MP BSI CMOS Sensor TruePic VIII Image Processor Olympus 4x Optical Zoom f/2 Lens 25-100mm (35mm Equivalent) 3.0" 460k-Dot LCD Monitor Water, Crush, Shock, Freeze & Dustproof

DJI Ronin-S

A7 II Mirrorless with FE 28-70mm lens

LOWEST PRICE EVER!

379.99

OMD EM10 Mark III

2 LENS BUNDLE

449.99

$749.99-300= $449.99

24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor DIGIC 6 Image Processor 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps 45-Point All Cross-Type AF System Dual Pixel CMOS AF

$398.99 - $99=

299.99

5d Mark IV

LOWEST PRICE EVER!

Scan Slides to DVD

49¢

$1799.99 - $500=

EACH

35mm only. Not to be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Exp. 1-31-19

24MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor BIONZ X Image Processor 693-Point Hybrid AF System UHD 4K30p Video with HLG 2.36m-Dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF 3.0" 922k-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization

599.99

CALL FOR SPECIAL PRICE!

1299.99

a7 III Mirrorless

BODY ONLY! 30.4MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor DIGIC 6+ Image Processor 3.2" 1.62m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor DCI 4K Video at 30 fps; 8.8MP Still Grab

$799.99-200=

18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD Lens

w/18-135 kit

DOORBUSTER

16.1MP Four Thirds Live MOS Sensor Dual Quad-Core TruePic VIII Processor UHD 4K30 Recording; Clips Video Mode 2.36m-Dot 1.23x Electronic Viewfinder 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD

80d

hx80 18.2MP BSI Exmor R CMOS Sensor BIONZ X Image Processor Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 30x Optical Zoom Lens 24-720mm (35mm Equivalent) 638k-Dot Pop-Up OLED Tru-Finder EVF 3.0" 921k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor

DOORBUSTER

6 TAPES FOR

$99 Tape transfers to DVD

One Tape $19.99 No LIMIT. DONE IN HOUSE Not to be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Exp. 1-31-19

1999.99

20.3MP Digital Live MOS Sensor Venus Engine Image Processor UHD 4K60p Video; 80MP High-Res Shot Mode 5-Axis Sensor Stabilization; Dual I.S. 2 0.83x 3.68m-Dot OLED Viewfinder

Got tapes?

BODY ONLY! $

1299.99

10% OFF

Reel to Reel Movies to DVD

Not to be combined with any other offer. With coupon. Exp. 1-31-19