Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly March 29, 2019 by Charlotte Media Group

Inside: The Easter Bunny wants to see you • Page 2A

Friday, March, 29, 2019 • Vol. 12 • No. 13

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

Thrive OVER 55

justin@cmgweekly.com matthewsminthillweekly.com

ART CLASSES

A GUIDE TO SENIOR LIVING

GOING THE DISTANCE: 69-year-old prepares for his 19th Boston Marathon, Page 6A SUPPORTING OLDER ADULTS: 15 people fighting for seniors, Page 5B

WEEKLY PICKS

CHECKING MEMORY: Report: Not all doctors are doing it, Page 4A

Celebrate life Charlie's Carnival features games, bounce houses and food trucks from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 30 at Stumptown Park in Matthews. The event celebrates the life of Charlie Holt, who died at a rotating restaurant in Atlanta.

Grand opening The Ashley HomeStore Outlet celebrates its grand opening from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 30 at 9632 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews. The store is offering deep discounts and a chance to win a shopping spree. The first 200 customers get a free fleece blanket.

Remember WWII, Page 1B Retired nurse can hear again, Page 5A

Fundraiser The Kiwanis Club of Matthews is serving up pancakes for a good cause from 8 a.m. to noon March 30 at Matthews Presbyterian Church. Tickets cost $8 at the door. Children younger than 8 eat for free.

Mayor: No booze at Crews

Music The Town of Indian Trail launches its Hits After Six concert series on April 4 with 1970s and 1980s rock band Sonic Rewind. Events take place 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays at Crossing Paths Park. The first event will include food and drink vendors, as well as yard games and bounce houses.

by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

Theaters Get ready for a good cry. Tim Burton's “Dumbo” hits the big screen. It's the latest Disney animated hit to get the live action upgrade.

been in the past.” Since starting March 21, Benny has already made an impact, Pennington added. Pennington "He started (March 21) and he already has two arrests under his belt. So, he is off and running, which is good for the town," he said. Osuch is a 19-year veteran with the department and has been a K-9

MATTHEWS – If two recent votes by the Matthews Board of Commissioners are any indication, prohibition has come to the Crews Recreation Center. At its March 25 meeting, the board, on a 4-3 vote, shot down a request from a prospective renter who requested that a champagne toast be allowed during a wedding reception at the recreation center on the evening of June 22. That vote came two weeks after the board unanimously rejected a request from a prospective renter that wanted to serve alcohol in the multipurpose room during a bridal shower in the facility. That request was denied in part because youth activities would be occurring in the center at the same time as the bridal shower. Matthews Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resource Director Corey King told the board that the staff had no objections to granting the request for a champagne toast at the wedding reception on June 22 since there were no other activities scheduled for the center on that night. Commissioner Chris Melton asked King if other activities could

see K-9, Page 7A

see BOOZE, Page 7A

Senior expo Reminder: The Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly Thrive Over 55 Senior Expo takes place March 29 at Christ Covenant Church, 800 Fullwood Lane in Matthews. The event will include door prizes, giveaways, breakfast and lunch. Registration has closed. See you there!

Town Commissioner Chris Melton (right) plays with police K-9 Benny as Matthews K-9 handler officer Kevin Osuch looks on. Paul Nielsen/MMHW photo

Online extras • Six of the 10 Republicans vying for the vacant 9th District congressional seat squared off in a candidate forum in Monroe on March 26. Among them were Matthews resident Gary Dunn (pictured), N.C. Sen. Dan Bishop and former county commissioner Matthew Ridenhour. • The Town of Matthews flew the town hall flags at half mast to mark the passing of Juanita Jordan, who was a longtime town clerk and town manager before retiring in 1992. Jordan, 95, died March 20 at Novant Matthews Medical Center. She was buried at Historic Matthews Cemetery. • Clayton Wilcox, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, introduced a $1.6 billion 2019-20 budget on March 26. The budget represents a 15.2 percent increase. The school board will vote on the budget in April. From there, it goes to county commissioners for review.

New K-9 cop already making arrests by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

MATTHEWS – A new employee met with the Matthews Board of Commissioners on March 25 but the newest member of the police department didn’t seem to pay too much attention to town leaders. Mayor Paul Bailey even took notice of the lack of attention given to the board. “He is having a great time with his tennis ball,” Bailey said. But you can’t blame Benny be-

cause after all, he is a 15-month-old Labrador Retriever. He recently joined the police department’s K-9 unit Bailey with handler officer Kevin Osuch. “He still has a lot of puppy in him as you can tell,’’ Police Chief Clark Pennington said. “Benny is a single-purpose K-9, which means he is trained in narcotics protection. He is not patrol apprehension as some of our other dogs have

Planning for Tomorrow’s Goals, Today Business and Corporate Law Business Purchases, Sales, and Transitions Healthcare Practice Representation Commercial Real Estate

Please join us for the Matthews office opening Tuesday, April 2, from 3-6 pm

RSVP today to info@totmanlaw.com

Page 2A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March 29, 2019

NEWS BRIEFS

IN THE KNOW PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Hunt works to add teacher assistants to classrooms

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Mario's Italian Restaurant was among restaurants serving samples at the Union County Business Expo on March 21 at the Union County Agricultural Center in Monroe. Dante Miller/MMHW photo

MOST POPULAR STORIES • Coach Mark Sanders makes massive impact at Butler • The 50 most powerful women of Matthews, Mint Hill • Mint Hill wants to snuff out firefighter bill • Providence High students dance, sing their way through ‘Newsies’ • Five summer camps that focus on animals

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

PUBLISHER Adrian Garson BUSINESS MANAGER Rebecca Jensen MANAGING EDITOR Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com NEWS EDITOR Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

• “Mark your calendar: on 3/30, #MeckBOCC's Commissioner Rodriguez-McDowell & Commissioner Harden will host a community tax relief workshop w/ #CLTCC member Dimple Ajmera. Join them at the Sportsplex at Matthews from 10 a.m.-noon to talk about property revaluation & get Qs answered.” – Mecklenburg County‫‏‬ (@MeckCounty) • “We'd never cry over spilled milk, but if our coffee ever spills... expect more than just tears.” – Mint Hill Roasting‫‏‬ (@MintHillRoastin)

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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

ART DIRECTOR Kylie Sark art@cmgweekly.com

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Better get your ducks in a row and plan for these Town of Matthews events. The Easter Bunny and his colleagues are counting on you. Dante Miller/MMHW photo

Easter Bunny is waiting for you MATTHEWS – The Town of Matthews offers three opportunities to celebrate Easter. Children, ages 2 to 5, are invited to eat lunch with the Easter Bunny, from 11 a.m. to noon April 12 at the Matthews Community Center. Children will also do a fun craft and can take their photo with the Easter Bunny. Tickets cost $10 per person and are available at the Matthews Community Center. Space is limited. The Great Easter Expedition will take place over three weeks in April, allowing egg hunters to search for thousands of toy-filled eggs hidden in Matthews parks and greenways. Twelve golden eggs can be redeemed for a $50 MasterCard gift card. Photos with Mr. & Mrs. Easter Bunny will be available free of charge from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13 at the Matthews Community Center. Bring a camera and take your annual family picture. Call the Matthews Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Resource Department at 704-321-7275 or visit www.matthewsfun.com for details.

RALEIGH – N.C. Rep. Rachel Hunt is sponsoring House Bill 428, known as the “K-3 Reading and Literacy Improvement Act,” which was filed March 21. The bill would provide funding for one teacher assistant for every classroom in kindergarten through second grade and one TA for every three third-grade classroom. Current law allows for funding for only two TAs for every three kindergarten classrooms, one TA for every two first-grade classrooms, one TA for every two second-grade classrooms and one TA for every three third grade classrooms. “Teachers and parents agree that these valued professionals are key to having our children reading on grade level by third grade,” Hunt said. “If we want to move the needle on reading progress, we must improve the adult to student ratio in our early grades.”

AAA: Gas prices continue to rise due to demand CHARLOTTE – Gas prices have gone up another nickel on the week across the Carolinas and most motorists are paying more at the pump than they were this time last year, according to AAA Carolinas. North Carolina’s $2.46 average is up five cents on the week, 19 cents on the month and is two cents more than this time last year. Charlotte averaged $2.44 on March 20, $2.37 on March 13 and $2.21 on March 20. “Since early February, gasoline demand has been steadily increasing while stocks have been gradually decreasing causing more expensive pump prices across the country,” said Tiffany Wright, AAA Carolinas spokesperson. “This week, we officially passed last year’s prices.”

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HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

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

Matthews 11100 Monroe Rd. 704-841-2025

ROBERT STONE

Stone was sensational on March 15 as the Lions blanked Cary Academy 2-0. Stone threw a complete game four-hit shutout with five strikeouts.This fall, the junior quarterback led the Lions to a 6-5 record in COVENANT DAY BASEBALL their first varsity football season.

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly â&#x20AC;˘ March 29, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 3A

First Round

Thirsty 32

March 22 to 26

March 29 to April 2

8 The Loyalist Market

April 5 to 9

April 12 to 16

1 Sante

12 Stacks Kitchen 12 Stacks Kitchen

6 Mac's Speed Shop

April 26 to 30

April 19 to 23

April 12 to 16

April 5 to 9

13 El Valle Mexican Restaurant

6 Mac's Speed Shop

Downtown Matthews

Thirsty 32

First Round

March 29 to April 2

March 22 to 26

1 Stooges Pub & Grub

9 Mint Hill Rock Store Bar-B-Q

8 O'Neil's Pub 9 Mint Hill Rock Store Bar-B-Q 5 Vintners Hill

12 El Valle 12 El Valle 4 Dunwellz 4 Dunwellz

Mint Hill

13 Kabab King 6 The Hill Bar & Grill

6 The Hill Bar & Grill

11 Pita Kabab Grill 3 Kristopher's

1 Stooges Pub & Grub 16 J Birds Burger Jointe

Final Fork

5 Moe's Original Bar B Que

13 El Valle Mexican Restaurant

Final Fork Edible Eight Sweet 16

Road to the

8 The Loyalist Market

9 Royal Cafe & Creperie

4 Wayback Burgers

April 19 to 23

Championship

Munch Madness

1 Sante 16 Grace O'Malley's

Sweet 16 Edible Eight Final Fork

11 Happy's Grill 3 Jakes Good Eats

14 The Portrait Gallery

14 Showmars

14 The Portrait Gallery

14 Showmars

7 Jekyll & Hyde

10 Jimmie's Restaurant

10 Pizza Peel 10 Pizza Peel Matthews

7 Big Guys Pizza 10 Jimmie's Restaurant

2 Beantown Tavern

2 Hawthorne's Pizza

15 Ming Fu 15 Ming Fu

2 Hawthorne's Pizza 15 Marco's Pizza

Champion 1 Texas Roadhouse

1 Deep Sea Seafood Market

1 Texas Roadhouse

16 Yaki Asia Fresh

16 Jonathans 8 Bonefish Grill

9 Be Em Asian Kitchen

8 Bonefish Grill 5 The Belle Grille

12 Buffalo Wild Wings

5 The Belle Grille

6 City BBQ

4 Fuzzy's Taco Shop 6 City BBQ

13 Metro Diner 13 Metro Diner 6 Cracker Barrel 6 Cracker Barrel 11 Outback Steakhouse 3 East 74 Family Restaurant

14 Steady Eddys Pumphouse 7 South 21 7 South 21 10 Mooyah Burgers

15 First Watch Matthews

5 Russell's Pub And Grill 12 Buffalo Wild Wings

12 Que Onda Tacos + Tequila

2 Azteca Restaurant

8 Crownpoint Restaurant 9 Be Em Asian Kitchen

9 Hinson's Drive-In

3 East 74 Family Restaurant

1 Deep Sea Seafood Market

15 First Watch Matthews

11 Juliana Pizza

Greater Matthews

Sardis

3 New Zealand Cafe 3 New Zealand Cafe 14 Crepe Bistro Galleria

How to vote No need to fill out the entire bracket. Each week, we'll collect votes for each round until a winner emerges. There are two ways to vote: 1. Email your round favorites to justin@cmgweekly. com. 2. Find photos of each bracket on Facebook or Instagram and leave a comment with who you want to win.

Who got snubbed? Would you like to file a formal complaint to the Munch Madness: Road to the Final Fork selection committee? Email justin@cmgweekly.com why your favorite restaurant deserved to be on the list or receive a higher seed and we may print responses. Remember, there is no crying in competitive food.

Visit the Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly Facebook to cast your vote

7 Famous Toastery 7 Famous Toastery 10 Chili's Grill & Bar 2 Mi Pueblo 2 Mi Pueblo 15 Steak N Shake 4 Boardwalk Billy's 13 Hefs Bar & Grill 13 Hefs Bar & Grill

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And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @mmhweekly

Page 4A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March 29, 2019

Carrington Place celebrates 25 years of excellence in Matthews by Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com

MATTHEWS -- Choosing the right assisted living, short-term rehabilitation or long-term skilled nursing facility can be a challenge, but the family atmosphere and exceptional long-standing reputation for excellence at Carrington Place Rehabilitation and Living Center vaults it toward the top of any list. Owner Linda Howard opened Carrington Place at 6000 Fullwood Lane 25 years ago. Little has changed since, something that is by design. Howard, who is a registered nurse, first bought an older assisted living center in Charlotte before opening Carrington Place. But when she settled in Matthews, Howard brought with her values of healthcare, friendship and excellent personalized care. Howard still runs the facility. Sandy Cannupp, marketing director and admission coordinator, said it’s Howard’s family-like approach to everything Carrington Place does that has always separated the facility. Cannupp said she took over for Howard’s mother-in-law, who everyone referred to as Granny. She worked there for years and knew everyone. She also had a way of making patients, their loved ones and guests feel welcome and comfortable while assuring every guest received the best possible care. And that’s how the staff operates to this day. “A lot of Linda’s family works here. Her daughter helps and her son runs our pharmacy,” Cannupp said. “It’s cool because our CAs are related to each other, one of our nurses had daughters and granddaughters who have worked here and we have CAs who have been here for 10 years or more so it’s very unique in that regard.” Cannupp said the primary mission of Carrington Place is to provide the highest patient care while also basing care on the individual’s specific medical, spiritual, emotional or social needs. To do this correctly, each staff member must be personally dedicated to each patient’s needs and desires, something Carrington Place excels at. “It’s a very old building, one of oldest in Matthews, and it’s one of the older nursing facilities around,” Cannupp said. “But it’s also one of the best. With all of the people we’ve helped, we’ve managed to have a very good and very deserved reputation.” The facility specializes in short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing, but there are some long-term assisted living patient beds and other traditional services such as physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and other long-term care options. And within those specific areas, Carrington Place

Carrington Place specializes in short-term rehabilitation and long-term skilled nursing. It is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Glen Espiritu/Carrington Place

offers a number of treatment options tailored to fit each individual’s schedule and preference. Under physical therapy, for example, Carrington Place offers option including muscle stimulation and diathermy as a way to expedite recovery. Occupational therapy is typically defined as facilitating one’s independence and well being. At Carrington Place, this is done through education on adaptive equipment such as shower benches, adaptive dressing and feeding aides and through energy conservation techniques. Cannupp said Carrington Place will tailor its programs to fit any patients need. And, no matter why Carrington Place is being sought out, it is the best choice for any patient. “It’s a special facility,” Cannupp said. “We’ve always maintained the quality of staff and an excellent quality of care. Every year we have really good surveys ... All of our facilities have maintained a great reputation for so long. There are physicians who refer people to us, we work closely with Novant and Atrium, so we’re very well connected and it’s for good reason.” 25th Anniversary Celebration Carrington Place is holding a “Cheers to 25 Years” 25th anniversary party and celebration on site May 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cannupp said Matthews Mayor Pro-Tem John Higdon will speak along with representatives from the Matthews police and fire departments. The event will be a chance to catch up with some familiar faces, meet new friends and celebrate all of the good that has come from Carrington Place over the past quarter century. Get more information or RSVP for Cheers to 25 Years by calling 704-841-4920 or emailing info@ carringtonplace.org.

Report: Not all doctors are assessing memory CHARLOTTE – Despite a strong belief among seniors and primary care physicians that brief cognitive assessments are important, only half of seniors are being assessed for thinking and memory issues, according to findings from the Alzheimer’s Association 2019 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. Much fewer receive routine assessments. The report examines awareness, attitudes and utilization of brief cognitive assessments among seniors age 65 and older. A brief cognitive assessment is a short evaluation for cognitive impairment performed by a healthcare provider that can take several forms, including asking a patient about cognitive concerns, observing a patient’s interactions, seeking input from family and friends or using short verbal or written tests. An evaluation of cognitive function is required with a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, but findings from the report show only one in three seniors are aware these visits should include this assessment. The report also found, however, that among both seniors and primary care physicians, there is widespread understanding of the benefits of early detection of cognitive decline and the importance of brief. In fact, 82 percent of seniors believe it is important to have their thinking and memory checked, and nearly all primary care physicians (94 percent) consider it important to assess all patients age 65 and older for cognitive impairment. “Given the enormous burden Alzheimer’s has on individuals living with the disease, their families and the country as a whole – it must remain a public health priority for North Carolina and our nation,” said Katherine Lambert, CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter. “This report reveals there is still a gap in seniors getting routine cognitive assessments that are critical for early detection of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. We encourage seniors and physicians to be more proactive in discussing cognitive health and doing a cognitive assessment during the Annual Wellness Visit and other routine exams.” The report found that just one in seven seniors (16 percent) say they receive regular cognitive assess-

ments for memory or thinking issues during routine health checkups. The Facts and Figures report also reveals a disconnect between seniors and primary care physicians regarding who they believe is responsible for initiating these assessments. The survey found that while half of all seniors (51 percent) are aware of changes in their cognitive abilities, including changes in their ability to think, understand or remember, only four in 10 (40 percent) have ever discussed these concerns with a health-care provider, and fewer than one in seven seniors (15 percent) report having ever brought up cognitive concerns on their own. Instead, most seniors (93 percent) say they trust their doctor to recommend testing for thinking or memory problems if needed. Yet fewer than half of primary care physicians (47 percent) say it is their standard protocol to assess all patients age 65 and older for cognitive impairment. Only one in four seniors (26 percent) report having a physician ever ask them if they have any concerns about their cognitive function without seniors bringing it up first. Nearly all physicians said the decision to assess patients for cognitive impairment is driven, in part, by reports of symptoms or requests from patients, family members and caregivers. Physicians who choose not to assess cognition cite lack of symptoms or complaints from a patient (68 percent), lack of time during a patient visit (58 percent) and patient resistance (57 percent) as primary factors. Most physicians say they welcome more information about assessments, including which tools to use (96 percent), guidance on next steps when cognitive problems are indicated (94 percent) and steps for implementing assessments efficiently into practice (91 percent). “The Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter is committed to help educate physicians on best practices for conducting brief cognitive assessments and to encourage seniors to proactively discuss thinking and memory concerns with their doctor,” Lambert said. “This proactive approach with increased communication plays a critical role in early detection to ensure that affected individuals and their families have the best opportunity to plan for the future.”

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March 29, 2019 • Page 5A

SENIOR GUIDE POST INSURANCE AGENCY

Bob Smyth, a hearing instrument specialist with Beltone, explains the new hearing aids to Yvonne King. Dante Miller/MMHW photo

Retired nurse receives gift of hearing by Dante Miller dmiller@cmgweekly.com

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MATTHEWS – Yvonne King was living with only one hearing aid for about a year and is losing her hearing in both ears. On top of that, the hearing aid she had wasn't working well, but she couldn't afford new ones. She worked as a nurse for 25 years at the Consolation Nursing Home. She would have continued if she didn't break her arm from a fall while helping a patient. She has had balance problems and a knee replacement. Things haven't been the same since her fall, and after over two decades of selflessness, it was time for someone to help her. That person was her husband, Desmond. Desmond wrote a heartfelt letter to the Beltone Hearing Care Foundation to see if they could help his wife. The foundation approved Yvonne to receive a pair of top-of-the-line Legend hearing aids. She received her fitting March 12 at the Beltone Hearing Aid Center. “This is a blessing for me, and I thank you guys [Beltone] for the work you've put in,” Yvonne said. “Every time I need help I just run in here to Bob, and he fixes whatever needs to be fixed.” Hearing Instrument Specialist Bob Smyth said Yvonne's years as a nurse resonated with

him. Legend hearing aids can cost upwards of $7,000, and according to Smyth, hearing aids are not covered by insurance. “Some people deserve our help,” Smyth said. “Yvonne is one of those people. Ms. King has spent many years as a nurse taking care of other people. Now it's time somebody took care of her. She's a good person.” Yvonne is a kind person, but her ongoing hearing loss was irritating her and loved ones. “It was very frustrating not being able to hear people and people not being able to hear me,” she said. “Sometimes I don't respond properly because I can't hear what they're saying.” “To say one thing over and over and you're still not getting through to the person could be very irritating,” Desmond replied. “But you don't show it.” Yvonne goes to church consistently and said her church family is warm. “They do their best for me,” she said. “I was sitting in the second pew in the church. The priest came up to me and said, 'I see you got a front row seat,' and I said, 'Better to hear you with,' but I still couldn't hear.” One of the unique things about Beltone is that each patient can have their routine check-ups free of charge. “We do that so that we can check on little changes when they're little,” Smyth said. “The good thing is there's a lot of adjustments, and the bad thing is there's a lot of adjustments. So for thing things I can do, I want to get it as close to perfect as possible.” Yvonne and Desmond will celebrate their 54th anniversary in July. They look forward to eating a nice dinner and listening to music. Beltone is located at 600 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Suite E. Call 704 814-7419 for details.

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Page 6A • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March 29, 2019

Pineville man, 69, prepares to run his 19th Boston Marathon

Dolph Janis (left) founded Clear Income Strategies Group in 2005. Jeff Conyers joined the company as an associate last year. Paul Nielsen/ MMHW photo

by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

CHARLOTTE – Back in 1981, Joe Schlereth signed up to run in the United Way Corporate Challenge 5K. Schlereth, who was working for Axa Equitable, had no choice. “I was told all the managers were going to participate, and I was one of the managers,” Schlereth said. Schlereth didn’t train much for that race but he did achieve his goal of beating the other managers from his company. A year later, Schlereth again ran in the race. While he didn't improve, the race proved to be an eye-opener. “I have to get in better shape,” Schlereth said at the time. “I considered that two strikes.” Schlereth, 69, of Pineville, has been running and running ever since. He started with local races – 5Ks and 10Ks – before running his first marathon in 1985. “I still remember my time, and I wish I could get that now. It was 3 hours, 28 minutes and some seconds,” Schlereth said. “Pretty decent time for a first-time marathoner.” In two weeks, Schlereth will depart for Boston, where he will run in his 19th Boston Marathon on April 15. He has run in more than 300 marathons and ultra-marathons, in addition to many shorter races. Ultra marathons are races longer than a 26.2-mile marathon and include distances of 50K, 100K, 50-miles, 100-miles and 24-hour races. Favorite race The Boston Marathon is his favorite race. The reasons are many. The 26.2-mile course runs through the historic suburban towns of Hopkinton, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley before ending in the heart of downtown on Patriots Day. All runners also must post a qualifying time to be one of the lucky 30,000 runners entered this year. Schlereth finished the 2018 Boston Marathon in 4:23.02 but this year’s qualifying mark is 4:05 for his age division of 65-69. Schlereth has run several sub-four-hour qualifying marathons since the 2018 Boston Marathon. “It is prestigious because it is one of the few marathons that you just don’t sign up,” Schlereth said. “You have to hit a certain time based on your age and gender.” And then there are the enthusiastic crowds that line the race course in support of the

Firm educates clients on retirement solutions by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

CHARLOTTE – When Medicare, life insurance and extended care financial solutions professional Jeff Conyers was thinking about becoming an associate at Clear Income Strategies Group in south Charlotte, he had just one question for company founder Dolph Janis. Janis has been in the retirement services industry since 2005. His company strives to find common-sense solutions for individual retirement needs. “He wanted to find someone that is doing right for the clients,” Janis said. “One of the first questions he asked me is: What do I do for my clients? The answer was what is best for them.” Conyers, who owns Carolina Living Benefits, signed on about nine months ago as an associate. He said the company’s emphasis on customer service was one reason he joined the company. “We don’t work for an insurance company. We don’t work for a bank. We don’t work for a brokerage,” Conyers said. “We work for our clients.” Janis said educating clients about different retirement strategies is extremely important to the associates at Clear Income Strategies. Janis also offers his clients a variety of annuity options that best fit their needs. “We don’t charge fees for services. We get compensation from the companies we work with,” Janis said. “Last year alone, I wrote with 19 different companies. You go to a standard advisor, they have probably written with one or two, sometimes three companies, if you get lucky. We tell people the truth. We are going to do what is the best for the client. One person’s situation is

Joe Schlereth not only runs long distances, but he shares his love of running with others through mentoring with Charlotte-based Run For You. Photo courtesy of Joe Schlereth

runners. Some years have as many as 500,000 spectators lining the course. “The city really supports it, and it is really like a happening,” Schlereth said. The future Schlereth said he'll keep running until his body can’t take it anymore. He's planning to run the Boston Marathon in 2020. “I keep saying that I am near the end,” Schlereth said. “I want to do 20 Bostons. I’m realistic in that my body is going to say, ‘Don’t do this anymore.’ But I am feeling pretty good.” Regardless of when his competitive running career begins to wind down, Schlereth intends to stay active in the sport. For the past 10 years, Schlereth, who is a certified distance running coach, has been active in Run For You, where he mentors runners young and old. Run For You is a Charlotte-based running training program for runners of all ages and all abilities and pace. It has three training locations in Piper Glen, Midtown and University. Schlereth is affiliated with the Piper Glen group. “I have a passion for running and I want to pass some of that along,” Schlereth said. “If I can’t do the marathons anymore, hopefully I will still be helping people by being a coach and helping people train. Running will always be a part of me until I have to be in a rest home or underground somewhere.”

different from everybody else. Your strategy is going to be different from everybody else that we talk to. The clients are making the choices. We are not making the choices. Some advisors are going to try and sway you one way.” Before getting into retirement services almost 15 years ago, Janis managed a casino and a restaurant in addition to being a golf professional. “I had a lot of people I know that got destroyed in 2001, and I have been an educator my whole life,” Janis said. “I have done my fair share of educating. When I got in this business I said, ‘How can we educate people in the right way.’ “We are built on customer service. A lot of these people run these one-man shops and they will meet with you once a year if you are lucky. They are going to hear from us weekly, monthly just to stay in touch. Our focus is that nobody is ever forgotten. They don’t contact you until they need you.’’ Conyers said a personal experience led him to become a Medicare, life insurance and extended care financial solutions professional. “My dad had Alzheimer’s and what I realized in helping him with all of his personal decisions was that the folks he was trusting to lead and guide him were not necessarily doing that,” Conyers said. “They were more interested in lining their own pockets. As I learned the Medicare business and got licensed, I started helping folks at church, as well as my dad. When I lost my corporate consumer products job, I decided to do this full time. “At the end of the day, there are a lot of people in this business for a number of different reasons. But at the end of the day, my motivation was to help folks and do as I would want done to me.” On the web: https://clearincomeforlife. com.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March 29, 2019 • Page 7A

CRIME SCENE The Matthews Police Department reported these incidents March 11 to 17: Alcohol • 300 block of West John Street: DWI. March 13 • 8000 block of South I-485: DWI, reckless driving and speeding. March 11 Assaults/Threats • 700 block of Plantation Estates Drive: Assault with a weapon. March 15 • 2100 block of Matthews Township Parkway: Communicate threats and stalking. March 14 • 11100 block of Barnyard Court: Communicate threats and harassing phone calls. March 17 Break-Ins • 100 block of Edgeland

Drive: Air compressor stolen. March 15 Break-Ins, Vehicle • 8900 block of East Independence Boulevard: Sunglasses stolen. March 13 • 9000 block of East Independence Boulevard: Breakin reported. March 16 • 9000 block of East Independence Boulevard: Radio stolen. March 16 • 9400 block of East Independence Boulevard: Headphones stolen. March 15 • 9900 block of East Independence Boulevard: Purse, wallet and cards stolen. March 15 • 9900 block of Matthews Park Drive: Power tools stolen. March 15 Fraud/Forgery

• 900 block of Cameron Village Drive: Identity theft. March 14 • 1800 block of Matthews Township Parkway: Credit card fraud. March 14 • 2100 block of Matthews Township Parkway: Credit card fraud. March 11 Property Damage • 300 block of Crestdale Road: Damage to property involving air conditioning unit and wall. March 11 • 13300 block of Idlewild Road: Damage to property involving metal garage door and window. March 11 Thefts • Lowe's, 2115 Matthews Township Pkwy.: Vacuum cleaner stolen. March 14 • Lowe's, 2115 Matthews

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Township Pkwy.: Impact kit stolen. March 14 • Sam's Club, 1801 Windsor Square Drive: iPhone stolen. March 11 • Vintage Keepers, 100 W. Matthews St.: Collectibles stolen. March 15 • 300 block of Matthews Crossing Drive: Auto parts/ accessories stolen. March 11 • 1900 block of Moore Road: Cell phone stolen. March 14 Other • 1700 block of Windsor Crossing Drive: Hacking/ computer invasion. March 15 The Mint Hill Police Department reported these incidents March 11 to 17: Alcohol • Fox Hollow Road: Driving while impaired. March 17 (2 cases) Assaults/Threats • 8100 block of Dennis Road: Assault on a female. March 14 • 14200 block of Clearvale

Drive: Simple assault and assault on a female. March 16 Break-Ins, Vehicle • 9500 block of Stoney Glen Drive: Theft from vehicle. March 11 Drugs • 4600 block of Stoney Trace Drive: Simple possession of marijuana. March 13 • 7000 block of Ravenglass Lane: Possession of schedule I controlled substance. March 11 • 7000 block of Wilson Grove Road: Possession of Schedule IV controlled substance. March 14 • 9000 block of Lawyers Road: Simple possession of schedule VI controlled substance. March 17 • 9500 block of Stoney Glen Drive: Possession of marijuana. March 11 Fraud/Forgery • 2600 block of Heath Lake Drive: False pretenses/swindle/con game. March 15 Property Damage • 9500 block of Stoney Glen

K-9 (continued from page 1A)

handler for 15 years. “Benny will be the fifth K-9 that he has worked with,” Pennington said. “That is a very long and illustrious career so far, and we appreciate it. Officer Osuch is a master trainer.” Benny replaces 10-year-old Castor, who

Drive: Destruction/damage/ vandalism of property. March 12 • 10800 block of Williams Road: Property Damage. March 17 Robbery • 9500 block of Stoney Glen Drive: Armed robbery. March 11 • 9700 block of Idlewild Road: Armed robbery, simple assault, assault by pointing gun and larceny. March 16 Thefts • Monroe Hardware, 6912 Matthews-Mint Hill Road: Larceny. March 11 • 9700 block of Idlewild Road: Vehicle theft. March 16 • 9800 block of Standing Wood Court: Motor vehicle theft. March 13 • 10000 block of Lawyers Glen Drive: Larceny. March 13 Other • Lawyers Road: Flee to elude, careless & reckless and hit & run. March 15

was also handled by Osuch for the past seven years. And Benny and Castor will be buddies as the town agreed to sell Castor to Osuch for $1 so the Belgian Malinois can remain with his handler in retirement. Osuch has agreed to accept responsibility and liability for Castor’s care. It has been common practice by the town in the past to retire K-9 dogs to their handlers.

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be booked at the center if the request was granted. King said it was possible but not likely, but he added the staff could deny any requests for events at the same time as the wedding reception. “Normally on Saturdays, activities are early in the day,” King said. “Schedule-wise, we can block the gymnasium.’’ Several commissioners expressed concern about granting the request after denying the previous one. Mayor Paul Bailey said he didn’t think that alcohol should be allowed in the Crews

Recreation Center at all with the exception of special religious events. Earlier this year, the board approved a request that wine be served to adults of legal age during a religious ceremony. “I am not going to support the motion because I just don’t think the recreation center is the appropriate place to have alcohol at parties and stuff,” Bailey said. “I don’t want to see this getting started at the recreation center. If we let it go once, then it gets bigger. I just don’t support it.” Bailey and commissioners John Higdon, Melton and Kress Query voted to deny the request while commissioners Barbara Dement, Jeff Miller and John Urban voted for the proposal.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March 29, 2019 • Page 1B

Realtor gives WWII vet models of DeVenuto planes he worked on during war felt calling to help veterans

by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

by Paul Nielsen

MINT HILL – What started as a business relationship between a real estate agent and a client looking to sell his house, eventually turned into a friendship based on a shared interest in history and aviation. It didn’t matter the two friends are more than 30 years apart. Ed Funderburk, 60, has been selling real estate in Mecklenburg and Union counties for 32 years. Paul Norman, 94, had already moved to a new house on Grove Hall Avenue in Mint Hill, but he hadn’t sold his previous home. He strung Funderburk along for about a year while he debated whether to sell the house, rent it out or let his family decide what to do. One day, Norman called Funderburk and asked him to come by his office. He owns the Paul Norman Company, a sheet metal fabrication shop near the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and has reported for work every day until this past year. His daughter, Susan, now runs the business. As soon as Funderburk walked into Norman’s office, he noticed his aviation and World War II memorabilia. “I threw my paperwork on the chair beside me and I said, ‘Hell, let’s talk about planes,’” Funderburk said. Funderburk had wanted to be a fighter pilot in the Navy and even passed the entrance exam after graduating college. But after talking with fighter pilots that came out of Vietnam, he decided at the last minute not to go in due to the politics. Norman was a Navy flight captain (crew chief ) on naval fighters in WWII. It was the perfect match. “I’ve always had great respect for those who served, regardless of which conflict,” Funderburk said. The two talked for hours about Norman’s time in the Navy. He was 18 years old and liv-

paul@cmgweekly.com

Above: Ed Funderburk presents the model planes he made to Paul Norman, who was a Navy flight captain on fighters during WWII. Right: A model of the WWII Naval fighter Grumman F4F Wildcat. Photos courtesy of Ed Funderburk

ing in Union Grove, N.C., when he was drafted for WWII. He saw joining the service as an educational experience and a change of pace from life on a farm. “A young man can learn very fast in whatever interest they put you in, and I was interested in airplanes,” Norman said. “It was an experience to an old country boy.” When the war began in 1939, the United States was just coming out of The Great De-

pression. Good paying jobs were still hard to come by and new opportunities were scarce, Norman said. see PLANES, Page 3B

WWII pilot survives capture after 68th mission At one point, German soldier held gun to his temple by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

MINT HILL – On Dec. 17, 1944, Thomas Easterling and 11 other P-47 fighter planes took off from a base in France for a railroad station near Mannheim, Germany. It was the day after the Battle of the Bulge began, and the station was full of trains and box cars loaded with German troops, tanks, artillery and ammunition headed toward the fighting. This would be Easterling’s 68th mission in western Europe. It would also be his last. An earlier U.S. bombing mission had blocked the tracks north and south of the station, trapping the trains and its cargo. “We had them pinned up in there,” 95-year-old Easterling said from his Mint Hill home on March 25. Easterling’s plane had been damaged the day before, so he hopped in a new P-47 at around 2 p.m. Easterling was one of three groups of four planes that took off for the railroad station. “We bombed in pairs, and we bombed from about 2,000 feet,” Easterling said. “Once you drop

your bombs, or rockets, you come back around strafing. Everyone had done that and there were explosions going off everywhere. We worked it over pretty good.” But Easterling was not done. He still had some 50-caliber ammunition left in his eight machine guns. He noticed an area that hadn’t been heavily damaged. “I thought I would attack that, and it would be my last pass,” Easterling said. It was his last pass. “I fired just a short burst and I could see pieces of this car flying apart,” Easterling said. “Then, I opened up on it and it just exploded. It looked like the whole world exploded in front of me. I couldn’t get over it or to the sides of it.” Easterling saw a small opening in the explosion that he hoped would be big enough to fly his fighter plane through to safety. “But I got inside and the thermal effect was so great that it lifted my plane straight up into all this stuff, train wheels and everything that was coming down,” Easterling said. “My plane got busted to pieces. In front of me

MATTHEWS – After moving to the area a decade ago, Nick DeVenuto read in a newspaper about a visually impaired and blinded veterans group needing volunteers to provide transportation for members. DeVenuto jumped behind the wheel of his car, and he has never looked back when it comes to helping veterans. Along the way, DeVenuto drove a shuttle cart at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Charlotte, and he started collecting signatures from WWII veterans. As time passed, the number of WWII veterans dwindled fast. DeVenuto organized a luncheon March 20 at the Americana Restaurant to not only honor the few remaining World War II veterans left but also any veteran that served the country. About a dozen veterans attended the event. Matthews Mayor Paul Bailey, Mint Hill Mayor Ted Biggers and Indian Trail Mayor Michael Alvarez were among those thanking veterans for the service. The Matthews Rotary Club paid for the luncheon. “I have been helping veterans since I moved here from New York because I needed a calling,” DeVenuto said. “My calling is to help veterans. I started a little ministry taking veterans to and from their appointments and it grew into bigger things.” Much bigger things, too. DeVenuto has worked on veterans' farm equipment, done carpentry work and helped them navigate the VA system, among other activities. DeVenuto enjoys hearing veterans talk about their service and sacrifice to the country, and he wants as many people as possible to hear those stories, too. “They have such amazing stories,” DeVenuto said. “My love for World War II veterans, and all veterans, is beyond my scope. I’m so honored and privileged to be able to help these veterans, and they do need help. The World War II guys, they need people to hear their stories.’’ C.L. Brasfield, 95, of Charlotte, was one of the WWII veterans at the luncheon. Brasfield, who served on the island of Guadalcanal during the war, said DeVenuto has been a tremendous help to him and all veterans. “Nick has helped me get treatment that I didn’t know that I deserved,” Brasfield said. “He helps me in so many ways, I just can’t remember all the ways he has helped me. I’m glad he found out about mex.”

World War II veteran Thomas Easterling (right) stands with Department of Veterans Affairs volunteer Nick DeVenuto. The Mint Hill resident was shot down and captured by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. Paul Nielsen/MMHW photo

there was a disc about the size of a house and there was no way to get by it. I was traveling fast, and it was too. It cut off about four feet of my left wing just like a weed eater. This thing that got me was the top of a fuel storage tank. My engine was on fire. Oil was all over.”

Easterling parachuted from his burning plane. When he landed, Easterling had two broken legs, a head injury and several missing teeth. “As soon as I landed, civilians were the first ones there, and they see PILOT, Page 4B

Nick DeVenuto helps Elmer Winterfeld show off some of his military memorabilia. Paul Nielsen/MMHW photo

Page 2B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March 29, 2019

Veterans reflect on WWII service ly wounded. “We tore up Saint-Lo, and they (Germans) did, too,” Outen said. Outen was later wounded in northern France. After he got out of the hospital, he served with a Military Police Battalion in Europe until the end of the war. Lucy Gentile, Outen’s caregiver, said one particular story that Outen told her sticks out the most. “He was in a foxhole and the bombs were coming so close to him that it was shaking the ground in the foxhole,” Gentile said. “He said he prayed and there was nobody in the foxhole with him, but someone said, ‘Pray out loud.’ He swears it was God telling him to pray out loud so anybody in the other foxholes could hear him. It must have been a terrible time, and so many of them didn’t come back.”

by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

MATTHEWS – On June 6, 1944, Curtis Outen waded ashore Omaha Beach in Normandy, France during the Allied D-Day landings that signaled the start of the liberation of western Europe from Nazi occupation during World War II. More than 5,000 Allied soldiers were killed during the initial assault, including many on Omaha Beach, while thousands more were wounded during the bloody battles. On March 20, the 97-year-old Charlotte resident drove himself to the Americana Restaurant in Matthews for a luncheon honoring local military veterans from the Second World War through wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Several of Outen’s fellow WWII veterans also attended the event, which was organized by Nick DeVenuto. Here are four stories from World War II veterans about the courage and sacrifice they showed in a war the United States became involved in nearly 78 years ago.

Charles Richardson, U.S. Army-8th Air Force Richardson also was involved in the Allied Invasion of Normandy on D-Day, and he flew two of his 35 missions during the war in a B-17 bomber that day. Many of his 33 other strategic bombing missions were runs deep into Germany, including one where his plane returned with more than 600 holes in it. Richardson, who was born in Charlotte, was a gunner and the plane’s radio operator. What does the now 95-year-old Richardson remember most about his service in the war? “Getting shot at,” Richardson said. “We grew up awful fast. I was just a kid when I went in, and I was a man when I came out.” Richardson said seeing the Allied invasion force on D-Day from the air was a sight to behold. “It was almost unreal,” he said. “The entire English Channel was so filled with boats that it looked like you could walk across them. Every type of military ship you could think of was crossing there. We thought we would rush right

Curtis Outen, U.S. Army Outen, who has called Charlotte home for nearly all of his life, landed with the second wave on D-Day, and within minutes, a piece of German shrapnel ripped his pants. Outen then had to climb through barbed wire to reach the bluffs above the beach. “I thought I had been shot because I was bleeding a lot,” he said. “But I just kept going.” Outen then saw heavy combat as Allied troops captured the key French towns of Carentan and Saint-Lo. Outen’s company was involved in heavy fighting at Hill 192, which is also known as the Purple Heart Hill, near SaintLo. When the battle for Saint-Lo ended, Outen was one of only 18 members of his 100-man company that had not been killed or serious-

Indian Trail resident Elmer Winterfeld talks about his experiences in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War. Paul Nielsen/MMHW photo

in, but we got stopped on the beach. The Germans were very well prepared.” After the war, Richardson went to work as a parts manager in the automotive industry for Mercedes-Benz. “It was kind of funny that I was working for a German company after the war,” Richardson said with a laugh. C.L. Brasfield, U.S. Army Brasfield, 96, served in the Pacific Theater on the island of Guadalcanal, where he wrote up autopsy reports while working with a pathology unit. Brasfield joined the Army in November 1942 and was discharged in December 1945. “I was on Guadalcanal for 18 months,” Brasfield said. “It was very somber writing up those reports. You knew what the cause of death was because it was related to the war.” Brasfield also spent time on the island studying to be a minister. Brasfield is the minister of visitation-chaplain at Charlotte’s Eastway Church of God, which is the city’s oldest Pentecostal Church.

He is also a volunteer chaplain with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Brasfield said the support the troops received from Americans back home was uplifting to all those in uniform at the time. “I felt very proud to be part of the Army, and we enjoyed the backing of the country,” Brasfield said. “They were with us and they appreciated us.” About seven years ago, Brasfield learned he was the last living soldier of his unit. “There were about 40 people in my unit,” Brasfield said. “I think I was the youngest one.” Elmer Winterfeld, U.S. Navy Winterfeld, 92, joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 and served in the Philippines on a PT Boat during World War II. Winterfeld was trained to do every job on the boat in case a fellow crewman on the small boat was injured or killed. The Indian Trail resident was in the Philippines when the war ended. “We were preparing to invade the southern part of Japan, but

Truman dropped the A-Bomb and that took care of that,” Winterfeld said of the conflict’s ending. Winterfeld was eventually discharged in 1946. The journey back to the United States from the Philippines is one trip that he'll never forget. “Seventeen days out of 19, we went through a typhoon,” Winterfeld said. “It was horrible. When we went to unload the ammunition in the magazine, it was all over the place. That was live ammunition.” After working several jobs after WWII, Winterfeld rejoined the Navy during the Korean War and served on the U.S.S. Salem, a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser. As part of his deployment on the Salem, Winterfeld spent considerable time in the Mediterranean Sea. Winterfeld chronicled his time on the Salem with a vast personal collection of original photographs of historic sites across the Mediterranean, including a visit with Pope Pius XII and snapshots of actor Errol Flynn and actress Elizabeth Taylor.

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PLANES (continued from page 1B)

“There was not a lot to do, so joining the service was a step up actually,” he said. “It was a great opportunity for me as well as helping the country and I felt good about that.” Norman had wanted to be a pilot, but missed the deadline to apply. As a crew chief, he prepped the planes before flight, checked the instruments and controls, diagnosed problems and trained repairmen. He had to be an expert on every aspect of the planes he worked on, which included the Grumman F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat. The F4F Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that began service with both the U.S. Navy and British Royal Navy in 1940. With a top speed of 318 mph, the Wildcat was the only effective fighter available to the U.S. during the early part of WWII, but it wasn’t as quick or maneuverable as Japan’s Mitsubishi A6M Zero. The F4F Wildcat was eventually replaced with the faster F6F Hellcat, which was credited with destroying more than 5,000 enemy aircraft while in service. The Hellcat could compete with the Zero and was the U.S. Navy’s dominant

fighter in the second half of the Pacific War. Funderburk eventually sold Norman’s house, but their relationship didn’t end there. He felt compelled to do something special for Norman, so over a period of almost two years, he built replicas of the F4F Wildcat and F6F Hellcat. He recently gifted Norman the planes as a thank you, and Norman says they’re very good. The models are extremely detailed from the color schemes to wear from the pilot walking along the wings to the marks from the pilot’s feet rubbing on the pedals. Funderburk does a lot of research for every model he builds to make them as realistic as possible. “If you shrunk yourself down to about an inch tall, climbed inside and strapped the seatbelts on, you could take off in this thing,” he said. “That’s how detailed these things are.” Norman gets nostalgic whenever he looks at the models Funderburk made. He said it brings him back to both a critical time in his life and a crucial point in history for the country. He said WWII was “cruel” from all sides but it had to be done, and he lost a lot of friends. “It was you or him,” Norman said. “War…what it means is I’m going to kill you or be killed.”

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Funderburk believes it’s important to honor all of our veterans – whether they were on the front lines of combat or behind the scenes making sure the planes, tanks, ships and other machinery were in good shape. “The WWII guys are literally the greatest generation. These guys were 19 and 20 years old and some even lied about their age so they could fight in the war,” he said. “If it hadn’t been for what they did and the sacrifices they made, we wouldn’t be here. It’s just what we owe them and they’re disappearing rapidly because they’re dying off. It’s just my way of saying thanks.” When it comes to recognition, it is no surprise Norman shies away from the limelight. He appreciates the time Funderburk spent on the models, but he’s humble. “I don’t feel like we did anything special. We did our duty at the time we were needed,” Norman said. “I think I did something honorable, yes, but not heroic. I honored the flag.”

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Page 4B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March 29, 2019 rel of a German soldier’s pistol being pressed against his temple. (continued from page 1B) “He said he was going to shoot me, and I believed him,” Easterling said. “I just said started stripping me of anything they want- a short prayer. I didn’t pray to save my life. ed,” Easterling said. “I was wearing my class What I prayed for is for God to accept me ring and by that time, both my hands were into heaven when that guy pulled the trigger. swollen up pretty big. Some guy wanted that But like that, the mayor yelled something like ring, and he got it off, meat, flesh and all. SS an order, and the SS trooper put the gun in troops came up and saved me, pushing the his holster.’’ civilians off me.” Easterling was then ferried to several locaEasterling was then loaded into an ox cart tions before finally being placed in a POW and taken to a nearby town. The town square camp. Easterling received no real medical atwas full of people and the mayor was on a tention or adequate nourishment. second-floor balcony giving a speech East-York Times As signsSyndication of the Allied advance toward the TheasNew Sales Corporation Theweather New Yorkcamp Times Syndication Sales erling laid on the ground in freezing increased, theYork, German guards 620 Eighth Avenue, New N.Y.Corporation 10018fled, fol620For Eighth Avenue,Call: New1-800-972-3550 York, N.Y. 10018 Information while being surrounded by German SS troops. lowed by most the POWs. Easterling and For Information Call: of 1-800-972-3550 For Release Monday, May 14, 2018 It was then that Easterling felt the cold barfour other wounded POWs finally fled after For Release Thursday, May 10, 2018

commandeering a car from a nearby town. “The five of us were finally the only ones there,” Easterling said. “There was no water or anything like that. We weaved our way through the lines, and we finally got back to some Americans.’’ When Easterling got back to England, he was put in a cast from the neck down. When he returned to the United States, Easterling was in traction for over a year and underwent five surgeries to help repair his wounds. Easterling was finally discharged from the Air Force in November 1947 after spending 30 months in different hospitals. Easterling didn’t talk about his experiences until one of his grown children started “pestering” him about his service during the war. “She knew I was a prisoner of war and that I

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Venues Matthew’s • Beantown Tavern: 130 Matthews Station St. • Hinson’s Drive-In: 2761 CPCC Lane • Kristophers: 250 N. Trade St. • Mac’s Speed Shop: 142 E. John St. • Moochies Tavern: 15060 Idlewild Road • Pizza Peel: 110 Matthews Station St. • Seaboard: 213 N. Trade St. • Stumptown Station: 107 N. Trade St.

• Dunwellz: Music Bingo • Fox’s Alley: Shannon Lee w/ Tonya Wood • Kristopher’s: Karaoke • Mary O’Neill’s: MisTics • Moochies Tavern: Province of Thieves • Pour 64: Analog Crash • Queen South: DJ Matt • Southern Range: The Lighthouse Duo • Stooges: Hardwired • Stumptown Station: Mark & Brian • Sweet Union: Radio Flyer • Trail House: Irrashional

March 29 • Beantown Tavern: Coconut Groove Band • Char Bar (Mint Hill): Courtney Lynn & Quinn • Grumpy Monk: Analog Crash • Hinson’s Drive-In: Almost Acoustic • Mac’s Speed Shop: StellaRising Trio • Moochies Tavern: Black Glass • Pineville Tavern: Prodigal Sons • Queen South: Stark Reality Trio • Southern Range: Dylan Ray • Stooges Pub: Action Jaxxon • Stumptown Station: Mike Ramsey • Trail House: The Two’s and Three’s • Vintner’s: Beauty and the Blues

March 30

was wounded but that is all she knew,” Easterling said. “She wanted me to write something.” Easterling started writing about his experiences for his children, including son John who is married to singer/actress Olivia Newton-John. Those writings turned into the book “Ticket to Hell” by Frank Harwood. “I wrote that for my children, and it took me about five years,” Easterling said. “Writing that down is what got me to be able to talk about it.” A second book, “Furrow In The Clouds: The Story of Young Thomas Easterling, Farmboy, Fighter Pilot, Prisoner of War,” was written after Newton-John told her father-in-law’s story to a book publisher while on a flight. “That’s the way this other one got published, it was through her,” he said.

equivalent the boonies 39Number Rhythmic group 5553InGreek 37 of World of Cupid Series for dancerings of the 56 Chopin piece Yogi Berra as a 2010s 54 Collect in the player 57 Very, fieldvery small 40 Bigger than local 38 Newly painted 5955Bridal line?service or state Auction 39 since 1995 62 Hoedown date 450°“___ Street” 41 Sport in a ring 56 Besides that 63 The French 46 “I thought this 44 Big worknever 57way? dayref. would Place for baby come!” 45 Refuse 64 Winner birds of 11 World Series, 50 capital, 47African Woman’s 58forIt short goes “clink” in a lake or gulf palindromic drink 65 Dweller on nickname to 52 Alternatives 59the Quick expression Mekong 48paninis Letters of of appreciation 66 “Not so great” 53 N.L. East player support, for short 60 Culturally 54 67 Vainglory conversant 50Scroogeisms Less of a jerk

March 31 • Moochies Tavern: Matt & John Acoustic Duo

April 1 • Moochies Tavern: Mike Huffman

April 2

Mint Hill • CharBar: 7312 Town View Drive • Dunwellz: 7110 Brighton Park Drive • Pour 64: 4410 Mint Hill Village Lane • Stooges Pub: 13230 Albemarle Road • Vintner’s Hill: 7427 Matthews-Mint Hill Road Monroe • Fox’s Alley: 1901 Skyway Drive • Grumpy Monk: 2841 W. U.S. 74 • Southern Range: 151 S. Stewart St. Pineville • Pineville Tavern: 314 N. Polk St. Indian Trail • Sweet Union: 13717 E. Independence Blvd. • Trail House: 6751 Old Monroe Road Stallings • Small Bar: 4320 Potters Road Waxhaw • DreamChaser’s: 115 E. North Main St. • Mary O’Neill’s: 116 W. North Main St. • Queen South: 1201 N. Broome St.

• DreamChaser’s: Music Bingo

April 3 • Beantown Tavern: Chuck Johnson Duo • Trail House: FireByrd

April 4 • Jonathan’s: Jem Crossland (Elvis fan club) • Pizza Peel: Music Bingo • Seaboard: Mike Waters • Small Bar: Jim Tierney • Trail House: Music Bingo

Online past Onlinesubscriptions: subscriptions:Today’s Today’spuzzle puzzleand andmore morethan than7,000 7,000 past puzzles, puzzles,nytimes.com/crosswords nytimes.com/crosswords($39.95 ($39.95a ayear). year). Read Readabout aboutand andcomment commentononeach eachpuzzle: puzzle:nytimes.com/wordplay. nytimes.com/wordplay.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March, 29, 2019 • Page 5B

CBD store focuses on holistic properties

15 people fighting for seniors We started a tradition with the launch of our senior expos last year to recognize 15 people in Mecklenburg and Union counties focused on providing resources to enhance the lives of seniors. Here are 15 more people that support older adults. • Tom Bartholomy – Bartholomy heads up the Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina, which warns seniors of prevalent and emerging scams. • Larry Berg & Harry Watkins – The duo started a veterans coffee house at Waxhaw Baptist Church in 2017 that has attracted dozens of retired military and their spouses. • Carla Cunningham – The Charlotte nurse-turned-legislator filed House Bill 423, known as the Caregiver Relief Act, on March 20. It seeks to support those caring for an aging population, not to mention grandparents helping raise grandchildren. • Iris Devore – The Happy Times Club recently celebrated its founder's 90th birthday at the Levine Senior Center, a venue in Matthews she also launched. Her legacy includes opening the Matthews Help Center. • Susan Didier – Didier coordinates arts and cultural programming for Indian Trail Parks & Recreation, ensuring the 55-and-older crowd, known as Prime Time Players, has fitness, presentations and other activities that build camaraderie. • Harris High – In addition to expanding Heritage Funeral and Cremation Services with locations in Weddington and Ballantyne, High chairs the board of directors for Council

by Paul Nielsen paul@cmgweekly.com

The Happy Times Club celebrated the birthdays of leaders Iris Devore and David Guthrie on Feb. 7 at the Levine Senior Center. MMHW file photo

on Aging in Union County. • Jill Lipson – Lipson directs the senior and adult services at the Levine Jewish Community Center, which offers a variety of activities through its Oasis Senior Enrichment Program. • Michelle Marcano – Mercano connects veterans to local, state and federal services they need in her role as division director for Union County Veterans Services. • Lance Nelson – After 22 years in the Air Force, Nelson works with the Department of Veterans Affairs as a veterans readjustment advisor and outreach program specialist. • Monica Smith – Smith oversees the adult services wing of the Union County Social Services, which ensures adults get good care. The agency takes reports from the community about abused or exploited adults. • Josh Stein – As North Carolina attorney general, one of Stein's goals is to protect consumers, especially seniors. Price gougers, con artists and other scumbags best stop what they're doing now. • Thom Tillis – U.S. Sen. Tillis serves on the Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees. He's also introduced pro-veteran leg-

islation designed to protect disability benefits and increase access to the American Legion. • Shannon Tucker – Tucker started working with Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center in 2000 as a speech-language pathologist and climbed her way to executive director by 2010. The organization is very active in the community. • Joyce Waddell – The state senator sits on the Committee of Pensions and Retirement and Aging. The Charlotte resident has fought for cost-ofliving adjustment increases for retired state retirees. Previously recognized champions March 2018: April Barnes, Peter Brunnick, Beverly Earle, Nate Huggins, Dahn Jenkins, David Lacy, Katherine Lambert, Vilma Leake, Linda Miller, Julian Montoro-Rodriquez, Trena Palmer, Suzanne Pugh, Renee Rizzuti, Linda Smosky & Jim Weiland. September 2018: Michael Alvarez, Arthur Barlett, Cindy Berrier, Kathleen Shelby Boyett, Pat Cotham, Barry Edelman, Les and Roberta Farnum, Wayne Felton, Andrew Friend, Lynn Ivey, Kathy Joy, Michael Olender, Colleen Puceta & Scott Stone.

CHARLOTTE – Charlotte’s first franchised Your CBD Store opened March 2, but the full-service shop is just one of many places in the metro area where CBD products can be purchased. Your CBD Store has almost 200 franchises across the country and touts itself as a leader in the global hemp market that is becoming popular among people who believe in its healing properties. The store’s products are made with cannabidiol, which is derived from the cannabis plant but comes without the intoxicating effects of marijuana. The passage of the 2018 Farm Bill said CBD and hemp extracts are now included in federally legal products for sale, provided the concentration of THC does not exceed the limit of 0.3 percent as defined in the new law, which opened the sale of some CBD products across the country. “CBD gets confused with marijuana,” Messina said. “It is not going to get you high. You are going to get the benefits of the plant but you are not going to get the high. A hemp plant has higher levels of CBD and lower levels of THC. It’s the opposite of a marijuana plant, which has higher levels of THC and lower levels of CBD.” Proponents of CBD products claim its use can help with a variety of ailments, including inflammation, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, addiction and several other conditions. There are even products for dogs and cats. Messina has been using CBD for several months. She said it works for her. “I personally struggle with anxiety and sleeping,” Messina said. “I am really into alternative, holistic, natural ways of healing. I wanted to take a different route and take something that doesn’t cause a separate issue, or feel like I needed to take a pill every day. I was taking essential oils and that led me into the CBD route. It wasn’t until I tried CBD until I felt totally different. “It was like day and night. I usually couldn’t sleep at night and this stuff helps me do that. It helps me relax. It

Amanda Messina owns the Your CBD Store in south Charlotte. Paul Nielsen/ MMHW photo

eases my mind.” Messina said business has been steady since the store opened at 4749 South Blvd., with people coming in looking for natural alternatives to prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The store sells a variety of items, including pain creams, lotions, tinctures, chapstick, bath bombs and beauty products. Messina believes using a CBD product is especially beneficial for combating inflammation. “Inflammation is kind of the root of all problems,” Messina said. “Inflammation can cause so many different conditions and ailments, anxiety, depression, chronic pain.” Messina finds many of the company’s customers are middle-aged or older, and they are repeat customers. “We want our customers to be educated,” Messina said. “We will sit down with them and see what they need help with. People want to get an alternative medicine, a natural healing, a natural solution. People love our products, and they are constantly coming back.” The Your CBD Store sells CBD that is organically grown in Colorado and the cultivation of the product is monitored by the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Messina said. “They use third-party testing, and you can look up the lab results,” Messina said. “They are very transparent about what is in your product. I think that is super important because if you get it from a gas station, you really don’t know what is going in it.”

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Page 6B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March, 29, 2019

How did you do? Below is the solution to the Sudoku puzzle from Page 3B

AARP launches ‘Stop Rx Greed’ campaign RALEIGH – AARP has launched ‘Stop Rx Greed,’ a nationwide campaign aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. The goal of the campaign is to help drive down drug prices by advocating for a variety of legislative, executive and regulatory actions at both the federal and state level. “This issue is a top priority for older Tar Heels and that is why we are launching this campaign,” AARP North Carolina President Catherine Sevier said. “AARP is calling on lawmakers to enact solutions that will provide long overdue relief for not just older Americans but all consumers. Those solutions must lower drug prices and not simply shift costs around in the system.” As part of the campaign, AARP Research conducted a national survey of likely voters ages 50 and older. The survey found that significant

majorities of self-identified Republican, Democrat and independent voters shared concerns about the high price of drugs, and support common-sense policies that will lower prices. Survey findings include: • 72 percent say they are concerned about the cost of their medications. • 63 percent say the cost of prescription drugs is unreasonable. • 90 percent support allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices. • 80 percent report taking at least one prescription medication. • Nearly 40 percent say they did not fill a prescription provided by their doctor with cost being the most common reason. “We are calling on Congress, the administration and states to pass commonsense, bipartisan legislation to lower prescription drug prices now,” Sevier added. “It is time for drug companies to stop price gouging Americans.” The Stop Rx Greed campaign will include national television, radio and

r o t a n i ll o P e v i t Na

e l e l a a S S t t n n a l a l P P Lisa Tompkins

digital ads, editorial content, emails to members, social media posts, ongoing advocacy and grassroots activity in D.C. and the states, and a petition calling on Congress and the Administration to take action now. As part of the campaign, AARP will push for support of a number of policy solutions at the national and state level to help lower drug prices, including: • Allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. • Allowing states to negotiate lower prices with drug companies. • Giving state attorneys general authority to crack down on outrageous price increases. • Clamping down on pay-for-delay and other loopholes that keep lower cost generic drugs off the market. • Capping consumers’ prescription drug out-of-pocket costs. • Preserving state pharmacy assistance programs. For more about Stop Rx Greed, Visit www.aarp.org/rx for details.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March, 29, 2019 • Page 7B

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Veteran owned and operated

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FREE ESTIMATES • INSURED

Professional gnitniaP roInterior iretnI laPainting noisseforP “A”Painter tsurT naYou C uoCan Y reTrust” tniaP A“

(704) 619-0253 ylleK neK

Owner/Operator setamitsE eerF

Free rotaEstimates repO/renwO

KellysPainting@carolina.rr.com moc.rr.anilorac@gnitniaPsylleK

Repair & Replacement of: • Roofing • Siding • Gutters • Deck & Patio Repair/Paint • Carpentry • Rotten Wood Repair

Over 20 years experience | All work is guaranteed

704-918-6248 • mctoolmanservices@gmail.com www.mctoolman.com Roof to Floor and SO MUCH MORE...

Your Home Exterior Specialists

BF Construction Services and Light Grading • Trail Building • Tractor

• Trachoe • Concrete Demo • Small Trees Cut • Footings

rusT

38 Years of Experience

Call Anytime!

Jerry Dunlap (Dunlap Brothers) Jerry@dunlapconcrete.com www.dunlapconcrete.com

980-622-7833

STAR ECTRIC EL

704.315.9944

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

Licensed & Insured • Free estimates

Call Bill

704-622-6460

or call Betty

Give us a call to schedule you pre emergent and weed control applications!

980-240-7358

Dakota Glass Custom Glass Specialist

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

BUILD BETTER IN 2019!

• Lawn mowing • Landscape design and installation • Core Aeration and over seeding • Fertilization and weed control • Clean ups • Mulch and pine needle installation • Leaf removal

704-254-1321

clontslawncare@gmail.com

704.573.3117

Licensed General Contractor Basic home improvements Remodels Custom cabinets Built ins Drop zones

sales@dakotaglass.biz www.dakotaglass.biz

Now Hiring!

Job Fair

www.paragonscllc.com | (704) 582-1478

Wednesday, March 27th • 11am – 4pm NCWorks Career Center 7140 Forest Point Blvd., Suite A Charlotte, NC 28217

See us on Facebook and Instagram

Your ad here for as low as $50 a week

(704) 909-7561

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: ad sales@cmgweekly.com

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

FREE ESTIMATES

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

HELP WANTED

CONCRETE WORK •••I G W T •••

Licensed • Bonded • Insured

• Small Dump Truck • Skid Loader

980-253-9496

TIM BALOGH starelectric.Tim@gmail.com

• Light Grading

• PAINTING • ROT REPAIR • PLUMBING • FLOORING

CALL ANYTIME FOR FREE ESTIMATES

Neat, suoeClean, truoC Meticulous, dna emiT-nO On-Time ,suoluciand teM Courteous ,naelC ,taeN Ken35Kelly 20-916 )407(

Experienced s Insured s Reliable • ELECTRICAL • CERAMIC TILE • KITCHEN/BATH RENOVATIONS

(704) 619-0253

• Bush Hogging HELP WANTED

• Custom Water Features • Landscape Lighting • Tree/Plant Installation • Grading/Drainage Solutions

The handy Man

• Group Coordinator Lead – Full Time, 2nd Shift • Laborers – Full Time, 2nd & 3rd Shifts • Tasker – Full Time, 3rd Shift Bilingual (Spanish & English) candidates highly desired! DHL Supply Chain is the leading global third-party supply chain manager specializing in a wide range of warehousing, transportation and logistics services. Our Distribution Center in Charlotte, NC offers excellent career opportunities.

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

DHL Supply Chain offers competitive wages and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.

For more information and to apply, visit

dhlhires.com/charlotte DHL SUPPLY CHAIN IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

LEGAL NOTICE

GARAGE SALE

HELP WANTED

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as Executrix of the Estate Jill Gift Lockhart, late of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, hereby notifies to all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before June 1, 2019, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 1st day of March, 2019. Jan G Boyer, Executor 4712 Fielding Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606.

GARAGE SALE HUGE 51st Annual Attic, Garage, Bake and Yard Sale,...all rolled into one. SouthPark Christian Church, 6650 ParkSouth Drive, 28210 Located off Park Road at the intersection of Park South Drive and Old Reid Road. Friday, April 5th, 2019- 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Saturday, April 6th, 2019 - 8:00 AM - 2:00 Percentage of sales will benefit the students of Montclaire Elementary School.

Microsoft Corporation currently has the following openings in Charlotte, NC (job opportunities available at all levels, e.g., Principal, Senior and Lead levels). Software Engineer: Responsible for developing or testing comp. sw apps, systems or services. http://bit.ly/MS Jobs_SDE http://bit.ly/ MSJobs_IT_SDE Multiple positions available. To view detailed job descriptions and minimum requirements, and to apply, visit the website address listed. EOE.

Accountant (Charlotte, NC) Participate in month-end close; analyze transaction records; prepare sales report & profitability report; prepare tax filing; generate payroll and commission report. Master of accounting with 6 months experience. Send resume to Niagara Machine, Inc. Attn: Wade Christensen, PO Box 19946, Charlotte, NC 28219

EDUCATION & INSTRUCTION AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING – Get FAA Technician certification. Approved for military benefits. Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance (866)724-5403

Page 8B • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • March, 29, 2019

DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNIT Y TO L I V E AT C H A R LOT T E ’S N E W E S T A N D B E S T - L O C A T E D A C T I V E A D U L T C O M M U N I T Y.

25 MINUTES FROM UPTOWN | 17,000 SQ. FT. CLUBHOUSE EASY ACCESS TO SHOPPING, DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT WALKING DISTANCE TO NEW NOVANT HOSPITAL

9 DESIGNER MODEL HOMES NEW HOMES FROM THE HIGH $200s TO $500s

980 -228-9044 | CHARLOTTE, NC CresswindCharlot te.com

© 2018 Cresswind is a registered trademark of Kolter Homes. Prices, homesites, home designs and other information subject to errors, changes, omissions, deletions, availability prior sales and withdrawal at any time without notice.

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