The Regional Weekly July 3, 2020 by Charlotte Media Group

Inside: School district frustrated with county commissioners • Page 4A

THE REGIONAL

A SPECIAL EDITION COVERING MATTHEWS, MINT HILL, WAXHAW, INDIAN TRAIL AND SOUTH CHARLOTTE Friday, July 3, 2020 • Vol. 13 • No. 27

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Social media posts draw complaints Memes lead to school board member's departure by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

MONROE – Travis Kiker resigned from the Union County Public Schools Board of EducaKiker tion after making a series of insensitive posts on his Facebook page, according to the school district.

Melissa Merrell, who chairs the school board, read a personal statement from Kiker to the media June 29 before the school board convened to discuss forming a citizens advisory committee on diversity. “In light of recent events, I believe my continued service will serve as a distraction to our key priority – our 42,000 children and 5,400 employees,” Kiker wrote in the statement. “I would

be remiss if I did not acknowledge my utmost respect and support for all of our teachers. I wish the very best to our board, our staff and our families.” Merrell said the new committee will address issues regarding diversity, acceptance and tolerance. It will include rising juniors and seniors, community members from each school cluster, district staff see KIKER, Page 4A

Union County Public Schools provided screenshots of memes from Travis Kiker's Facebook page that the district received complaints about. Photo courtesy of UCPS

Brinson inspires through writing

TORNADO TABLE Matthews HELP Center turns downed tree into wood art

South Meck grad wins national award for reflections on growing up Black by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

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MATTHEWS – After falling across Charles Street during the Feb. 6 tornado that ripped through downtown, a 110-yearold oak tree on the Matthews HELP Center property is now living a second life as a table at Backporch Treasures. The table was made by longtime HELP Center volunteer Dan Peterson to memorialize the tree and the tornado that ultimately brought it down. It measures 42 inches in diameter, 1.25 inches thick and weighs about 50 pounds, but it didn’t start out that way. After the storm passed, crews from the Town of Matthews did

the preliminary cutting to remove the bulk of the tree that fell in the roadway, but left the stump in the HELP Center’s yard. That’s when staff and volunteers had the idea to turn what was left into something special. “We have to capture this moment somehow,” said Sandra

Conway, executive director of the HELP Center. “We need to be able to say this happened at this place and time and we have record of it.” The project was right up Peterson’s alley. He does all the see TABLE, Page 5A

CHARLOTTE – Emory Brinson took the microphone at a Black Lives Matter rally on June 19 at Marshall Park and Brinson expressed the depth of her pain when she learned about the death of George Floyd. “I have been waiting for my father to die since I understood what it meant to be Black in this country,”she said, lifting her head from her smartphone to gauge the faces in the crowd. Emory was reading excerpts from a personal essay, “A Study in a Lifetime of Elegies.” That essay was part of a writing portfolio that earned the recent South Mecklenburg High School graduate a $10,000 college scholarship. She was one of 16 students across the country to win a Gold Medal in the 97th annual Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for her portfolio, which included seven poems that describe growing up Black in the South. Emory remembers learning about poetry as early as kindergarten at Trinity Episcopal School, but it was third grade when she became fascinated by haikus. She fell in love with the three-line poems, writing see BRINSON, Page 2A

Name change? Petition calls for dismissing Rebels, 4A

Taking over New CMPD chief takes oath, 2A

Studer: Communities that work together, win together by Quint Studer Contributor

Freedom, independence, self-sufficiency: these are great and glorious concepts. We celebrate them this time of year, whether we process it that way or not, because they're so deeply engrained in our image of America. We see ourselves as a nation of rugged individualists: seizing the bull by the horns, charting our

own course, walking alone into the forest with an axe slung over our shoulder. Yes, it's a romantic notion. But it's not an accurate one. America is a nation of small, tightknit communities and always has been. The more we cooperate, share, defer to others and work together, the more successful we are. Today, as citizens, businesses and civic see TOGETHER, Page 5A

The community came together to build an outdoor classroom at Idlewild Elementary School in 2017. CMG file photo

Emory Brinson participates in a Black Lives Matter rally on June 19 at Marshall Park. She's not only an award-winning writer, but she's involved in youth issues in the community. Justin Vick/CMG photo

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Page 2A • The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020

BRINSON (continued from page 1A)

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CONTACT US PUBLISHER Adrian Garson adrian@cmgweekly.com MANAGING EDITOR Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com NEWS EDITOR Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com ART DIRECTOR Kylie Sark art@cmgweekly.com ADVERTISING Charlotte Conway charlotte@cmgweekly.com Kate Kutzleb kate@cmgweekly.com PRESS RELEASES justin@cmgweekly.com

NEWSLETTER

enough of them to fill a book. “From there, I knew that writing was something I was passionate about and I never stopped,” she said. Emory has worked hard to develop her voice as a writer. She has attended Duke Young Writers camps, as well as spent time in Paris for a writing mentorship with The Adroit Journal, a literary magazine that works with budding writers. Creative writing serves as an outlet for her. “It's a way to express myself and really deal with the issues that I'm seeing on the news,” Emory said. Emory wrote in her personal essay how the deaths of Botham Shem Jean on Sept. 6, 2018, and Michael Brown on Aug. 9, 2014, affected her life. Their names are among the many that echo throughout cities across America as more people rally behind Black Lives Matter. “I have mourned more men in my 16 years than I dare say most will lose in a lifetime,” she writes. “I wait for a day in which children will not have to know this heartbreak with frantic breaths and a mess of tangled veins in my chest.” The four-page essay includes moments shared with family. While her father's New York accent has faded after 25 years of living in the South, she could better understand him after they watched Spike Lee's “Do the Right Thing” together. She recounted how her mother introduced herself to newcomers in the cul-de-sac to make them aware that five Black children live there. “I think this piece in particular was really something that had been growing in my head for a while because it was all things I was seeing on the news or I was reacting to in my house,” Em-

Emory Brinson (center) is more than an award-winning writer. She is involved in multiple community organizations that focus on developing youth. Justin Vick/CMG photo

ory said. “It was one of the easiest pieces I have ever written in terms of being able to put what I was trying to say on paper.” Being a South Meck grad, Emory was deprived of a senior prom and traditional graduation experience due to COVID-19. She said the pandemic really pushes you to think about what is important. Outside of school, she has worked to connect disadvantaged children to the arts and served as a chapter president of Jack and Jill, an organization that develops African American leaders. She told the crowd during the July 19 Black Lives Matter rally that she will help move this world one

step closer to understanding and compassion. “Even as I feel compelled to write elegy after elegy, wrapped in fear with the future and sorrow from the past, I recognize the opportunity to write odes and sonnets in honor of the men and women who inspire everything that I do,” she said. “Every day I find myself celebrating our durability.” Hear more from Emory Brinson South Charlotte Weekly recorded Emory Brinson reading her work during the rally. Search for “Emory Brinson reads from 'A Study in a Lifetime of Elegies'” to find the four-minute clip on YouTube.

New CMPD chief takes oath

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CHARLOTTE – Johnny Jennings was sworn in July 1 as the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Chief of Jennings Police. Jennings has spent nearly 30 years with CMPD and during his service has held several leadership roles. He said his administration will focus on four key areas: professional accountability, community collaboration, crime management and employee wellness. “It is important that as a police department we adopt a customer service mentality and instill that

mentality throughout the department,” Jennings said. “The community provides the CMPD with the authority to police. We are never going to move the needle and build community relations until we recognize how the community wants to be policed. That will require all of us, every single one of us coming together to make this community safer and the CMPD a better department.” Jennings was promoted following a national search to replace Kerr Putney. The search included input from community stakeholders and more than 1,400 CMPD officers and civilians.

“The events of the past several weeks have only reinforced my belief that Chief Jennings is the right person to lead CMPD,” City Manager Marcus Jones said. “He is a progressive, community-focused leader, and I’m looking forward to working with him for a long time.” Jennings was sworn in by Mayor Vi Lyles. “The person leading CMPD has always been one of the most important roles in our community and that is truer today than ever before,” Lyles said. “Chief Jennings is an excellent communicator and has a talent for building relationships.” Jennings will place a priority on

violent crime prevention and reduction through initiatives and partnerships in the criminal justice system and private sector, as well as examining alternative solutions to discretionary arrests of lower-level offenses. “Clearly, we cannot always arrest our way out of situations,” Jennings said. Jennings emphasized CMPD employee health and wellness will also be a top priority. “It’s sometimes easy to forget that there are men and women who are serving this community in our department, both sworn and civilian,” Jennings said. “Fair to say, that it has never been more challenging time for them to serve in law enforcement than this current time.”

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NEWS BRIEFS Union County residents can plan for 2050 MONROE – Union County has opened a four-week public input period on potential scenarios for its comprehensive plan. The plan, Union County 2050, will provide guidance to county leaders and staff on addressing growth, public health, safety, environment, infrastructure, and economic development through 2050. “Choosing a scenario will provide a clear set of land use and infrastructure strategies to include in the comprehensive plan,” Planning Director Lee Jenson said. “It’s vital to get adequate public input throughout this entire process.” Residents, stakeholders and business leaders are invited to provide input on the four draft visions online through July 24 or at one of three public input sessions. The format and information provided will be the same at each session. Sessions are scheduled as follows: • July 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mineral Springs Volunteer Fire Department, 5804 Waxhaw Highway, Mineral Springs. • July 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Union County Agricultural Center, 3230-D Presson Road, Monroe. • July 10, from noon to 2 p.m. at Indian Trail Town Hall, 315 Matthews-Indian Trail Road, Indian Trail. The county expects to present the final plan and recommendations to commissioners in early 2021. Visit www.unioncountync.gov for details.

COVID-19 gobbles plans for fireworks CHARLOTTE – Indian Trail, Matthews, Mint Hill, Monroe, Waxhaw and the Charlotte Knights have canceled fireworks and patriotic events due to COVID-19. State Fire Marshal Mike Causey released a list of remaining public firework displays with most in the Charlotte region occurring at country clubs, such as Carmel (Charlotte), Pine Lake (Mint Hill), North Stone (Huntersville) and River Run (Davidson). Tega Cay is expecting larger crowds for its fireworks at 9:30 p.m. July 4 due to canceled events. Visit www.tegacay sc.org/1019/4th-of-July-Celebration for details.

Counties report number of COVID-19 cases, deaths CHARLOTTE – Mecklenburg County reported June 30 there were 10,019 cas-

es COVID-19, including 149 deaths. During the past week, an average of 142 people with lab-confirmed cases were hospitalized, which represents an increase over the past 14 days. About 11.3% of people who were tested were confirmed positive, which represents a stable trend over 14 days. Union County’s COVID-19 case county is up to 1,190 cases, including 25 deaths.

The Arc of Union/Cabarrus gets mini-grant CHARLOTTE – The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities has awarded 37 mini-grants to organizations serving people with disabilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arc of Union/Cabarrus received a $3,500 mini-grant. It will use the money to create care packages. “COVID-19 has affected everyone in ways no one could imagine," said Talley Wells, executive director of the NCCDD. “With this grant, we were glad to support organizations with funding as they navigate and realign their operations.”

2 million masks to be distributed across Meck CHARLOTTE – Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio announced June 26 that more than 2 million free masks will be distributed across the county through the networks of Charmeck Responds and the Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. One million were donated to the county earlier this week from the federal government, with another million gathered by Atrium Health and members of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council. Diorio said getting coverings to those in need is key to slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Matthews police joining Neighbors App by Ring MATTHEWS – The Matthews Police Department is joining the Neighbors App by Ring, allowing for a faster, more efficient way of communicating suspicious activity and safety concerns. Police say this doesn't take the place of 911 or its direct communication center phone number of 704-847-5555 to report a crime or emergency situation. Officials say this is a voluntary program designed to maintain community safety through cooperative information sharing.

Mecklenburg announces July 4 closings CHARLOTTE – County offices and services will be closed Friday, July 3, for the Independence Day holiday. This includes all units of the Department of Social Services, the Tax Office, the Elections Office, the Register of Deeds Office, and the Land Use and Environmental Services Agency offices. The health department, library branches, solid waste facilities and full service centers will be closed, while parks, nature preserves and greenways will remain open. The Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center will be open July 3.

Ardrey Kell student places third in art competition CHARLOTTE – Kimberly Hoang, a junior at Ardrey Kell High School, placed third in the Congressional Art Competition for her acrylic painting “Distracted.” Her work will be displayed in the Washington, D.C. office of U.S. Rep. Alma Adams for one year. Twenty-two pieces of artwork submitted by high school students in North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District were displayed and judged by area artists Gordon James, Al Foster and A.J. Foster.

July 4 march promotes activism among youth CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Children’s March provides an opportunity to educate and encourage youth to use their voices for change. Children and families in and around the Charlotte area; will have the opportunity to dance, sing, chant, and march for a better future at 10 a.m. July 4 at First Ward Park. This event will host youth leaders of all ages, community champions and organizations for change. Organizers encourage participants to wear a face mask and practice social distancing. Visit www.facebook.com/ ccmarch2020 for details.

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Thales Academy Waxhaw to open July 20 for 2020-21 WAXHAW – Thales Academy plans to open its 10 campuses, including its Waxhaw one, for the first day of school on July 20 as scheduled for the first quarter of its yearround calendar. The academy said each campus is preparing safe, in-person learning environments for the 2020-21 school year. “We are so proud to be able to serve students back on campus this quarter so that they and their families feel confident in their continued academic and educational progress,” said Bethany Bateman, admissions counselor. “In this time of uncertainty for many school districts, we are glad to be able to offer educational strength and consistency for families at Thales Academy.” Thales Academy students in North Carolina completed their final quarter of the 2019-20 school year virtually after the state ordered schools to close to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Schools received positive feedback on their virtual approach during those months. However, school officials said staff and families recognize the intangible benefits that the return to Thales Academy's traditional model of in-person instruction offers to students and their families. “We strongly believe that providing an in-person educational experience is of utmost importance for the well-being of our students and families,” said Josh Herring, dean of students. “Returning to school will help students to continue progressing academically and socially, promote positive mental health and allow our working parents to focus on their obligations to their employers.” Thales Academy said it will follow all required practices in addition to adopting many recommended practices, based on necessity and feasibility for each campus. Thales Academy will continue to monitor conditions and adjust accordingly. On the web: www.ThalesAcademy.org/NCvirtual

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NC UNION COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION MICHAEL DALE HALL v. LATOYA MARIE WINGO HALL 20-CVD-1315 Attention “LATOYA MARIE WINGO HALL” Please take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above titled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Complaint for ABSOLUTE DIVORCE filed by MICHAEL DALE HALL against LATOYA MARIE WINGO HALL. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than August 10, 2020, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

Visit us online for more news briefs at matthewsminthillweekly.com, unioncountyweekly.com, and thecharlotteweekly. com. Our websites also have sports, arts, lifestyle and education content.

This the 2nd day of July, 2020. Cory A. Williams Attorney for Plaintiff State Bar No. 34289 725 E. Trade St., Suite 108 Charlotte, NC 28202 Telephone: (704) 377-3347 Facsimile: 704-377-3273 Email: cwill@cloudwilliams.com

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Policy could allow for change School board frustrated to Parkwood Rebels nickname with county commissioners by Justin Vick

by Justin Vick

justin@cmgweekly.com

MONROE – Union County Public Schools will review administrative guidelines at its July 7 school board meeting that will outline the process for requesting a nickname or mascot change. This comes as momentum builds for Parkwood High School to change its Rebels nickname, which people associate with Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. An online petition to change the mascot secured nearly 2,500 signatures after one day on Change.org. “It is not only wrong, but totally unacceptable to ask an African American student to wear a jersey with a mascot on it that has ties to a government of oppression who fought to keep their ancestors in chains,” according to the A 1980s version of the Parkwood High School mascot, since discontinued. It petition. “It is time to move past this has been associated with Confederate painful symbol, and no longer glorify soldiers in the Civil War. CMG file photo it in our community.” Melissa Merrell, who chairs the ences and values. The board prohibits school board, said during the June 30 the use of any race or ethnic group as a policy committee meeting that she has mascot or nickname.” Those petitioning for a change will received a handful of complaints via have to submit a form and demonemail from the Parkwood cluster. Superintendent Andrew Houlihan strate broad support for it. Once it and school board member Kathy Hein- clears the school-level review, it goes tel said they too had received com- before a school board committee and then the whole board. plaints. School board The Monroe chapter member Candice Sturof the NAACP tried divant said she hadn't received feedback about It is not only wrong, to change Parkwood's nickname in 2009, but Parkwood but she heard but totally those efforts were una complaint about the Forest Hills and Pied- unacceptable to ask successful. A Union County mont school mascots in an African American student to wear a Weekly story from that terms of racial discrimijersey with a mascot time said then-superinnation. The school board's on it that has ties to a tendent Ed Davis viewed changing the mascot as policy committee regovernment of a school-based decision. viewed a draft of the oppression who proposed guidelines fought to keep their The story notes that from general counsel ancestors in chains." surveys during Davis's tenure as principal at Michele Morris. The guidelines include the following state- Parkwood from 1994 to 2000 showed a majority of students favored the Rebment: “All mascots, nicknames and de- els nickname. Since the death of George Floyd in scriptors, including symbols, banners, flags, pennants or similar identifiers May, there has been growing support used by a school sports team, extracur- to remove symbols of the Confederacy, ricular clubs, curricular clubs or orga- such as flags, monuments and names nizations, shall respect cultural differ- of public schools.

“

KIKER (continued from page 1A)

and faith-based partners. “It is probably going to involve some very difficult and sometimes uncomfortable conversations,” Merrell said. “But that is OK, because it will help our school district become a better place as we continue to be one of the best school districts in North Carolina. This will be our opportunity to listen, understand and for all of us to grow together.” The committee has been in the works for about a month as school board members learned of groups of students within the Marvin Ridge, Porter Ridge and Weddington clusters discussing issues of diversity in UPCS schools. District staff will make recommendations to the school board about recruitment and who will facilitate the discussions. “I think it's a great suggestion,” Superintendent Andrew Houlihan said during the June 29 school board meeting. “Staff supports it 100%. We'll do

whatever we can to support it and to move it forward.” Merrell said Kiker's social media posts, which included a video and memes on a Facebook account, were brought to her attention last week amid graduations. The district was receiving emails and phone calls about the posts. “The board at that time took a look at Mr. Kiker's account and each one of us determined they were insensitive and inappropriate,” she said. She spoke with Kiker to get his side of the story, as well as consulted school board members, the district's attorney and outside counsel before Kiker's resignation. A reporter asked Merrell during the briefing if the school board had dealt with anything like this before. Merrell alluded to a “similar situation” in which a school board member did not resign. In 2017, member Dennis Rape was accused of making inappropriate comments to staff. The school board asked him to resign, but he was refused. Members then censured him. “We are held to a higher standard,” Merrell said of the school board. “We

justin@cmgweekly.com

MONROE – County commissioners not only gave Union County Public Schools nearly $5 million less than the district requested to operate for 2020-21, but they also blocked a $130 million school bond referendum from going on the ballot. These actions taken June 15 shocked and disappointed school board members. School board member Christina Helms said it seems like the relationship between Union County and UCPS is reverting back to where it was a few years ago when the district sued the county over inadequate funding. “It just seems like we're repeating old patterns over and over and over again,” Helms said. “The schools aren't being funded properly.” UCPS sought an increase of nearly $8 million to its county operating budget (for a total of $110.9 million) to meet state mandates and prevent teachers, nurses, psychologists, social workers and bus staff from leaving for neighboring districts. The county granted UCPS a $3.1 million increase instead. County Manager Mark Watson said during the June 15 meeting that the loss of sales tax this fiscal year due to COVID-19 and what his staff projected for the next fiscal year created some funding issues. “We were not able to address and fund all of the needs that were requested,” Watson said. “To that, I would say to UCPS, we hear you and we understand your needs.” Watson said if the county found additional revenues, he would return before commissioners with a prioritized list of projects and funding needs to distribute. As for the bond, Watson recommended commissioners form a committee to evaluate capital needs over the next five to 10 years for UCPS and South Piedmont Community College. That work could lead to a bond in 2022. “At this time, unfortunately, we do not have sufficient information necessary to determine the escalation factors, inflation and timing of available funding,” Watson told commissioners. Commission Chairman Jerry Simpson said no one is sure what education is going to look like as schools will change the way they operate to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Questions persist about COVID-19's effect on schools and families. The school board convened June 29 to prioritize its allocation from the county for 30 instruction-

al positions to meet state requirements to reduce class sizes and pay for increases to contracted services, utilities, human resources/finance software and staff benefits. The remaining $588,463 will be put toward the reopening of schools. “There's going to be a lot of PPE needs. There's going to be transportation needs,” Finance Director Shanna McLamb said. “While we do have some additional funding from the state, I don't believe it's going to be sufficient.” School board chairwoman Melissa Merrell and vice chairwoman Kathy Heintel were both under the impression the county did not need any further information from the district about the budget or bond. They had met with Simpson and vice chairman Dennis Rape to go over the budget the week prior to the vote. And when the county canceled a previously scheduled joint meeting between the two boards, Merrell and Heintel reached out to county leaders to see if they had any questions. They didn't hear anything. Merrell was also confused by feedback the district received from the county. She took issue with the county making UCPS spend its reserve funding for emergencies and telling the school board to go before commissioners for emergencies. Now UCPS doesn't have a reserve to address the reopening of schools or chillers. “I'm extremely disappointed that they said that if there was anything we needed to come to them and let them know what we need to continue to be one of the best school districts in the state,” Merrell said. “And they have unanimously chosen to not to listen to us when we bring this information to them that we're losing our position in the state for our employees.” As for the bond, Merrell said the district has been discussing its five-year capital plan, including future land purchases, school improvements and building replacements, for over a year with the county. School board member Gary Sides said that in his 30 years of living in Union County, he has never seen a commission deny the public an opportunity to vote on a school bond. Sides said Watson's idea of starting a committee to examine the capital needs of UCPS and SPCC was redundant, considering the district's facilities committee has already done the work. Helms said Forest Hills High School needs love and attention. She finds it hard to believe commissioners don't care enough about the citizens by denying them a chance to vote on a bond. “This is ludicrous to me,” Helms said. “It just shows a lack of empathy on their part – their lack of concern for our teachers, for our schools. It's just disgusting to me.”

are the voice for approximately 250,000 citizens here in Union County, 42,000 students and 5,400 employees. As elected officials to serve this great county, we need to be the voice for everyone. We need to be considerate of the people we represent.” Kiker has served on the school board since 2018. The school board will consult with the executive committee of the Union County Republican Party before filling the vacancy. The replacement will serve the rest of the term, which expires November 2022. Merrell addresses Facebook like Someone anonymously sent Union County Weekly a screenshot that appears as if Melissa Merrell liked one of the insensitive posts on Travis Kiker's Facebook account. Trish Williford, of WCCB, reported that her station asked Merrell about it and the school board chairwoman responded that she had no recollection of liking the post, may have inadvertently done so while scrolling and her accounts have recently been compromised

According to Union County Public Schools, board member Travis Kiker posted this meme, and others, to his Facebook page. The "insensitive" posts resulted in complaints that ultimately led to his resignation. Photo courtesy of UCPS

The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020 • Page 5A

TOGETHER (continued from page 1A)

leaders seek to come back from a public health and economic crisis, that spirit of community is more important than ever. It holds the key to our survival. I've spent much of my career traveling from one American community to another. Some are bustling larger cities. Others are quiet, small towns. What they all have in common is the burning desire to revitalize themselves: to become more vibrant, prosperous, livable and lovable than they are right now. And as I've worked with these diverse groups of Americans, I've seen a theme emerge: Those communities that work together, win together. When citizens and leaders come together, put their self-interest on the back burner and work as a team, things get done. When they don't, nothing gets done. The more you think about the myth of the self-reliant early Ameri-

can, the less likely it seems. Our ancestors must have huddled together in small groups and worked to protect each other from a harsh and unforgiving environment. They must have joined forces, shared what they had, and leaned on each other when times were tough. And on the larger stage, our nation's founders had to work together in a similar fashion to bring America into being. They were working toward independence as a new nation, but they had to rely on interdependence to get there. And as leaders of communities of all shapes and sizes and demographics and political persuasions, we can all learn a lot from them. Here are four big "history lessons" we should all heed as we seek to reopen, recover, rebuild and continue making our way on journey toward vibrancy: Set aside your self-interest and create something that works for everyone. Lots of different professions, in-

TABLE (continued from page 1A)

handyman projects around the HELP Center, fixes donated bicycles and repairs old mechanical clocks and antiques so they can be sold at Backporch Treasures. “I’m kind of a jack of all trades,” Peterson said. He’s also been a hobbyist woodworker for most of his adult life and even built a couple wooden boats, but nothing like what he calls “the tornado table.” He said it was the first live edge piece of furniture that he’s built. Mandi’s Tree Care cut two slabs from the stump that were about two to three inches thick and Peterson started from there. Each slab weighed 210 pounds. “The wood was very hard,” Peterson said. “It was probably the hardest piece of wood in terms of rock hard that I had ever worked with.” Through the process, Peterson learned a lot about “green wood,” which is wood that’s been recently cut and hasn’t had time to dry, or season. Green wood contains more moisture than seasoned wood, which has been dried overtime time or through forced drying in a kiln. He watched YouTube videos, read articles from other woodworkers and scrolled

dustries, and interests were present at the birth of America. Cabinet makers weren't fixated only on the wood industry, nor silver smiths on the silver trade. Everyone was fired up to contribute to something bigger than themselves. They bought into the overarching mission and weren't bogged down by endless debate over the short-term costs of their plan. In other words, don't be overly concerned with your own well-being. Setting aside your own shortterm best interests may accomplish far more for everyone in the long run. Because a rising tide lifts all boats, this includes you. Don't let ideological differences stop you from achieving something tangible. Despite bitter disputes and differences of opinion, a group of people with little in common other than their shared determination that change was needed were able to get mobilized and get something done. While there was much to be

through posts online. He also got advice from Wood Craft in Matthews and Carolina Urban Lumber in Pineville. Before Peterson could even start making the table, he had to wait for the water in the slab to evaporate. He said water comes out so fast that the wood cracks, shrinks and splits upon drying. He monitored the weight every week and after 90 days it stabilized at about 120 pounds – almost half the weight of when it was first cut. Peterson leveled the slab to 1.25-inches thick – reducing the weight to about 50 pounds – and used steel rods to reinforce the numerous splits and cracks. He then reassembled the slab like pieces of a pie and added bowtie (butterfly) oak splines to further reinforce the pieces. Next, he filled in the gaps, slits and open areas with blue pigmented epoxy resin. He said the hardest part was keeping the seal on the other side of the slab from leaking while pouring in the resin. “I got through it, but I had to do two or three pours to get it to fill in the total thickness,” Peterson said. “That was a little trickier than I thought, but everything else was pretty standard woodworking techniques.” Sanding and several coats of clear varnish finished the top. The base was made out of leftover ash.

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decided about the way things would function in the new nation, they all recognized that there wouldn't even be a new nation if they didn't set aside their disagreements and move the ball down the court. It's important to know what matters. Don't let petty disputes about how things should get done sabotage the greater task at hand. Don't be trying to steal the spotlight from each other. It's OK to let someone else be “the one in charge.” No one complained that John Hancock's signature was bigger than theirs, or that so-and-so got to sign the Declaration before they did. (OK, it's possible, but we can see by the document that resides in the National Archives that it got done anyway!) The founders kept their focus on the ambitious mission/vision of standing up to one of the most powerful authorities in the world: the King of England. When we try to make it about ourselves, we can get off track and

All in all, Peterson estimated he put 20 to 30 hours of work into the table. He has given it to the HELP Center on an “indefinite loan,” as long as they promise not to sell it. It’s currently on display inside Backporch Treasures along with pictures of the tornado damage and an info card that tells the story behind the table. Conway said the “tornado table” turned out better than she could have imagined. At first, she suggested building a rustic-style bench to place outside the HELP Center in the spot of the tree. That quickly changed when Peterson presented his finished product. “When he brought in this table, it was absolutely beautiful,” Conway said. “That was not going outside.” Some have suggested auctioning the table off as a fundraiser for the HELP Center, which has been dealing with a dramatic increase in need due to the pandemic. In May, the nonprofit gave out $40,000 in financial assistance and is on track to give out $70,000 in June. Conway said those numbers are double what the HELP Center is used to providing. Peterson knows there are many people who would pay dearly to have a piece of Matthews HELP Center history, but he said it’s not going to happen. “I’m not quite there yet,” he said. “I got attached to it because I put so much time

let our self-absorption derail the project or initiative. Keep the greater goal in mind and stay focused on that. Don't wait on the government. Instead, join together and take bold action at the local level. The changes desired by American colonists weren't coming from Great Britain. And so, in the summer of 1776 delegates from each of the Thirteen Colonies took it upon themselves to challenge British authorities and make change happen – their way. Citizen-powered change is the most powerful change. If it's to be, it's up to you and me, not government agencies. (Local governments tend not to have the budget to drive fundamental change, and due to election cycles, officials come and go. Many won't be around to see long term projects through.) Visit www.vibrantcommunity blueprint.com and www.studeri.org for details about Quint Studer.

Visit the table: Backporch Treasures is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 119 N. Ames St., Matthews.

and effort in.” Conway doesn’t want to sell the table either. She wants it to stay at Backporch Treasures as a memorial to the tree and an educational resource for visitors. “We can’t sell a piece of our history,” Conway said. “We need to preserve it and keep it at the Matthews HELP Center.”

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Page 6A • The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020

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BUSINESS The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020 • Page 1B

Little Mama’s opens in SouthPark

Kevin Nelson, of Mint Hill, recently became the owner of Black Chicken in Matthews. Nelson has expanded the menu and hours and plans to bring in live music. Karie Simmons/CMG photo

Rehatched

New owner takes over Black Chicken Wine Cellar by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

MATTHEWS – Black Chicken Wine Cellar in downtown Matthews is under new ownership, and while customers can expect to see some new faces and an expanded menu, other parts of the business haven’t changed. For starters, the wine selection at Black Chicken remains expansive. There are hundreds of labels from small production and boutique wine companies sold by the glass or bottle. Wine tastings happen every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Kevin Nelson, of Mint Hill, recently took over It’s kind of Black Chicken from the like if you original owner, Jason build it, they Niec. Nelson said the will come. It’s wine collection and overalready built, all vibe is what attractjust a couple ed him to the business. tweaks and Those are aspects he made open it up so sure not to change. more people “I’m originally from California and this place can come and kind of reminded me of everything home,” Nelson said. “It kind of falls reminded me of Napa.” into place.” After several years in • Kevin Nelson the car industry, Nelson was looking for a new business venture when he learned Black Chicken was available. He and his partner, Stephanie Maus, who is married to local businessman Joe Maus, purchased Black Chicken on June 1, ending Niec’s decade-long run. Niec started the business as a 500-square-foot wine shop in Matthews Station in 2010. Last year, he expanded into the Subway that closed next door and created a full kitchen, a bar with beer on tap, more seating and extra tables on

Scibelli’s new concept features Italian-American classics CHARLOTTE – Described as a prequel to Mama Ricotta’s, a Charlotte staple since 1992, Little Mama’s Italian Kitchen is serving classic Italian-American dishes out of the Porter Building across from the SouthPark Mall. The concept celebrates the 1960s and 1970s Italian restaurants restaurateur Frank Scibelli, operations guru Stephanie Kalish and chef partner Tom Dyrness enjoyed growing up that also inspired their careers. Scibelli, Kalish and Dyrness swapped stories and family recipes to craft a menu featuring classic, comforting dishes like scratch-made pastas and mozzarella to recreate their version of the neighborhood Italian restaurants that defined their youth. “Little Mama’s is a heartfelt project envisioned and produced by my team and me,” Scibelli said. “Growing up, our standards for hospitality were shaped by Sundays after church with our Italian families behind the stove or at one of our friend’s restaurants

down the street cooking their family recipes. Little Mama’s embodies the simple yet delicious flavors of our childhood.” Front of house operations will be run by general manager Bradley McClain, a returning FS Food Group team member and most recently general manager at Good Food on Montford. McClain has not only been instrumental in prepping daily operations but he has also played a substantial role in assembling the wine list. With a full bar, sunroom and dining room, there are a variety of spaces to enjoy a specialty cocktail like a Spritz with Aperol, Prosecco, fizzy water, orange, and olives, or an Amaro Boulevardier with Bourbon, Cynar, and Cappelletti; a glass of bubbles, red, white, or sweet wine; or a classic Peroni. Guests are encouraged to settle into one see MAMA’S, Page 3B

“

Little Mama’s, located across from the SouthPark Mall , is Mama Ricotta’s sister concept. Photos courtesy of Remy Thurston

see CHICKEN, Page 3B

Selva: Stained glass is in my blood Recent grad speaks multiple languages by Lee Noles Contributor

Want to learn more? Visit www.susansgcreations.com to explore more of Susan Pfeiffer Selva’s stained glass artwork. Photo courtesy of Susan Pfeiffer Selva

CHARLOTTE – After the birth of her third child, Charlotte resident Susan Pfeiffer Selva wanted to do something for herself. Little did she know it would turn into her next career. Selva enrolled in a stained glass-making class at Gaston College in 1989 and now creates the ancient art form for homes, businesses and churches throughout the area. “I wanted to get out and do something fun,” Selva said of the class. “It was something I did to soothe myself, and it morphed into something very big.” The idea started when Selva saw works of stained glass at local craft shows. Thinking she needed a four-year degree, Selva put the idea on hold until an artist mentioned the adult classes at the community col-

lege. Selva enrolled and began showing her pieces before joining a store in Cornelius to gain experience. She now works from her home after owning her own store for several years. “I love the freedom of it. I can work whenever I want,” Selva said. “It’s a little more financially freeing. If I have an appointment, I can do that then go in and make dinner or pop a load in the laundry and then work until 10 or 11 at night.” The process starts by Selva gathering design ideas and color schemes the customer may want. The concepts are then sent to Kat Patrick in Ohio who uses a computer program to generate the preferred design. After getting approval from the client, Selva uses two drawings to create the stained glass. One is a life-size replica of the design

WEDDINGTON – The basic hello or goodbye might be the extent for most when it comes to speaking a foreign language, but that isn’t the case for Zach Montana. The recent Weddington High School Montana graduate has mastered German and Chinese and is fluent enough in French and Spanish that he can speak the languages at a comfortable level. “A lot of languages have unique features that are exotic to my ears,” Montana said. “A foreign language isn’t just English with the words flip-flopped. You can convey it in a completely different way.” The passion started in middle school when Montana asked his parents for a Russian dictionary after seeing a James Bond movie that featured a scene in which the language was written. Although he knows the basics in Russian, he fell in love with German after taking a class as a freshman at Weddington. Daniel Sellner taught the class. Montana enjoyed how the curriculum was arranged so everyone

see GLASS, Page 4B

see LANGUAGES, Page 4B

by Lee Noles Contributor

Page 2B • The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020

BUSINESS BRIEFS

YOUR LOVE STORY AWAITS

Cinemark is taking several steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including sanitizing auditoriums every morning, handrails and seats between movies and high touch areas every 30 minutes. Photos courtesy of Cinemark

Cinemark closes movie theater

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MATTHEWS – Cinemark plans to reopen the remainder of its theaters this month with increased cleaning protocols, but the Cinemark Movies 10 at 9508 Northeast Court has permanently closed. A company representative confirmed the theater will not reopen “as it is nearing the conclusion of its lease term.” “This closure is normal course of business and the result of the careful and ongoing review of our theater fleet,” the rep said. Cinemark operates a location at 9630 Monroe Road, Charlotte.

Companies donating 1M masks CHARLOTTE – Atrium Health CEO Eugene Woods announced a consortium of business leaders have committed to collectively donating 1 million masks, with an emphasis on helping underserved communities. Bank of America, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, Carolina Panthers, Honeywell, Lowe’s and Red Ventures are partnering on the initiative. “It’s essential that businesses work in concert with health professionals so people can get back to work,” Woods said. “In fact, it is the key pathway to recovery.”

City of Charlotte offers small business recovery CHARLOTTE – The City of Charlotte is accepting applications for Access to Capital Small Business Recovery grants through 5 p.m. July 31 at www.charlotteopenforbusiness. com. The city recently partnered with Foundation For The Carolinas to launch the program, which will distribute $30 million in federal CARES Act funding to local small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will distribute grants of either $10,000 or $25,000 to small businesses.

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CHARLOTTE – Northwestern Mutual recognized 16 financial advisers, including Richard Worrell, for giving back. The award allowed Worrell, managing partner at Northwestern Mutual – Charlotte, to secure a $15,000 grant for Veterans Bridge Home, which helps veterans transition home after military service. “I am extremely passionate about helping them succeed in their post-military life, and Veterans Bridge Home offers not only critical resources but inspiration and a sense of purpose,” said Worrell, a former Marine.

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Chime Solutions adding 250 jobs in Charlotte CHARLOTTE – Chime Solutions, an Atlanta-based customer-contact service provider will expand in Charlotte, adding 250 new jobs for licensed life and health insurance agents. The firm is providing free training and testing for qualified candidates in partnership with Central Piedmont Community College.

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The city awarded Chime Solutions its first Opportunity Hiring Grant, which incentivizes the company to hire candidates seeking employment from workforce development partners.

SPCC offering new heavy equipment academy MONROE – South Piedmont Community College and The Ironpeddlers are partnering to offer hands-on training through a new Heavy Equipment Operator Academy starting in July. The academy will equip students with the Heavy Equipment Operations Level I, II and III certifications from the National Center for Construction Education & Research. They'll operate mini-excavators and similar equipment at the SPCC Tyson Family Center for Technology and The Ironpeddlers. Visit https://spcc.edu/heavy for details.

Foundry Commercial sells light industrial condos CHARLOTTE – Foundry Commercial announced the sale of two light industrial condos in the Dogwood South Industrial Center. These sales represent the third and fourth that Foundry has completed at this center alone. “The sale of these two light industrial condos drives home the fact that the Charlotte market remains healthy during what many consider an uncertain economic time,” said Casey Mulhern who represented the seller. The properties are located at 10815 John Price Road.

Apparo hosts contest for technology superheroes CHARLOTTE – Apparo, a nonprofit that helps other charities leverage technology, is accepting submissions for two key awards. The TechExec Community Impact Award celebrates Charlotte technology leaders that donate time, talents and financial support to nonprofits in need. The winner gets $5,000 of pro bono support to gift to a nonprofit. The Mission Possible: The Economic Opportunity Award helps nonprofits use technology to increase economic mobility in Charlotte. One nonprofit will receive $10,000 and $50,000 in free consulting.

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The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020 • Page 3B

DINING SCORES Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties inspected these restaurants from June 19 to 25:

Broiled salmon salad at Little Mama’s in SouthPark. Photo courtesy of Remy Thurston

MAMA’S (continued from page 1B)

of the dining rooms or cozy up at the “Mozz Bar” where patrons can watch the artisans at work, up close and personal. Notable details of the space include the zinc bar, a staple of high-end bars in the 1900s with their unexpected elegance, and photos of the crew’s culinary history in the entryway, including snapshots of the mothers and

grandmothers of Scibelli, Dyrness and Kalish cooking for their families. The menu boasts a selection of starters, salads, “parms,” pastas (pappardelle, ziti, fettuccine, radiatore) made in-house daily, sides and entrees. Highlights include Broiled Whole Cauliflower with lemon tahini, Calabrian agrodolce and bagna cauda; and Little Mama’s Big Ribeye with broiled marrow bones, roasted garlic and unfiltered extra virgin olive oil.

Want to eat? Little Mama’s began operating June 19 for take-out daily from 4 to 9 p.m. It planned to offer dine-in at 50% capacity, dinner only, after getting an ABC permit. Soon after that, Little Mama’s plans to open for dine-in lunch at 50% capacity, in addition to dine-in dinner and take-out. Call 980209-0323 or visit www.little mamasitalian.com.

CHICKEN (continued from page 1B)

the outdoor patio. Nelson said he didn’t have to do much to the menu except broaden it. He started by adding a kids menu with organic PB&J, flatbread cheese pizza, mac-n-cheese and simple sandwiches to make Black Chicken more family-friendly. Customers can expect to see appetizers like baked brie and Bavarian-style pretzel with beer cheese on the menu, as well as salads and gourmet sandwiches. Some new items include flatbread pizzas, buffalo chicken dip and spinach and artichoke dip. Nelson said he also expanded the cheese and charcuterie boards. “We can do these for up to 50 people now,” Nelson said. “They’re great for a party or a Realtor hosting an open house.” Another change customers might notice is the hours are different. Black Chicken is now open from noon to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to midnight Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday (there are special mimosas on Sundays). Nelson also has plans to eventually bring in live music. Naturally, Nelson said he was nervous about taking over a business in the middle of a pandemic, but he was mostly excited. He said Black Chicken already had a strong following and customer base in Matthews. “It’s kind of like if you build it, they will come,” he said. “It’s already built, just a couple tweaks and open it up so more people can come and everything kind of falls into place.” Plus, Nelson loves the walkability and neighborhood feel of downtown Matthews. He said Black Chicken’s location in Matthews Station and outdoor patio make it a perfect place to unwind with friends and family. “It’s a very relaxed atmosphere,” Nelson said. “You can tell when you walk in.” Check it out Black Chicken Wine Cellar is located at 131 Matthews Station St., Matthews. Call 704321-1244 or visit to learn more.

Lowest Scores • Sunrise Restaurant, 8923 Albemarle Road, Charlotte – 88.5 Violations include: Employees touched or moved masks then prepared food; rice and sausage patties were not held hot enough; raw shrimp, shell eggs, shredded cheese, hash browns and raw flounder were not held cold enough; date marking was inconsistent; and shell eggs were on prep counter with no time stamp. • Wingz American Grill, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy., Pineville – 90 Violations include: Employee drinks were in walk-in cooler over mixed fruit drinks, on prep table and on ice machine; employees didn't wash hands; box was stored on top of hand sink; heavy cream and lettuce were not date marked in walk-in cooler; and sanitizer wasn't at proper concentration. • Cantina 1511, 4271 Park Road, Charlotte – 90 Violations include: Certified person in charge wasn't available; soap wasn't at bar hand sink; sanitization step at two kitchen dish machines was not occurring; cooked rice and pulled chicken weren't cooled fast enough; cut greens, rice, raw fish, cheese, sour cream and plantains weren't holding cold enough; and small containers of food were not date marked. Charlotte (28209) • Amelie's, 4321 Park Road – 96 • Cantina 1511, 4271Park Road – 90 • Shake Shack, 1605 E. Woodlawn Road – 98.5 • The Flour Shop, 530 Brandywine Road – 96.5 Charlotte (28210) • Circle K, 10329 Park Road – 96 • Cook Out, 10645 Park Road – 97 • Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, 4725 Piedmont Row Drive – 99.5 • Dogwood Souther Table & Bar, 4905 Ashley Park Lane – 94.5 • Food Lion (bakery/deli), 10120 Johnston Road – 99 • Harris Teeter (seafood & market), 8538 Park Road – 98.5 • Hilton Garden Inn Grille, 4808 Sharon Road – 98.5 • Mega Baleada, 7631 Sharon Lakes Road – 94 • Rusty Bucket, 4810 Ashley Park Lane – 96 • Ruth's Chris Steak House, 6000 Fairview Road – 97 • Whole Foods Market (meat), 6610 Fairview Road – 98 • Whole Foods Market (prepared foods), 6610 Fairview Road – 97.5 Charlotte (28211) • Bulla Gastrobar, 4310 Sharon Road – 97 • Dominos Pizza, 4350 Colwick Road – 98.5 • Eddie's Place Restaurant, 617 S. Sharon Amity Road – 96.5 • Harris Teeter (seafood), 6701 Morrison Blvd. -- 100 • Publix (deli), 4425 Randolph Road – 99.5 • Publix (seafood), 4425 Randolph Road – 99.5 • Renaissance Patisserie, 6401 Morrison Blvd – 97.5 • Sabor Latin Street Grill, 3920 Sharon Road – 96 • Sabor Latin Street Grill, 1730 Abbey Place – 98 Charlotte (28226) • Blanchard`s Deli, 5721 Carmel Road – 96 • Cabo's Mexican Cuisine & Cantina, 6676 Carmel Road – 97 • Chicken Salad Chick, 7617 Pineville-Matthews Road – 98.5 • Harris Teeter (deli), 4100 Carmel Road – 99 • Harris Teeter (deli/bakery),7823 Colony Road – 95.5 • Harris Teeter (produce), 7823 Colony Road – 97.5 • Harris Teeter (seafood/meat), 7823 Colony Road – 98.5 • Los Paisas Restaurant, 8318 Pineville-Matthews Road – 98.5 • Lotus Cuisine II, 4100 Carmel Road – 90.5 • Nakato Japanese Steakhouse, 8500 Pineville-Matthews Road – 99 • The Wine Shop At Foxcroft, 7824 Fairview Road – 97

Black Chicken Wine Cellar in downtown Matthews has tons of indoor and outdoor seating options, such as comfy couches, chairs, a bar area and a sunny patio that’s perfect for people watching. Karie Simmons/CMG photos

Charlotte (28227) • Aggies Restaurant, 7209 E. W.T. Harris Blvd. – 93.5 • Angela's Pizza & Restaurant, 9705 Mintworth Ave. – 96 • Food Lion (deli), 8100 Idlewild Road – 98 • Honey Buns, 7323 E. Independence Blvd. – 99 • Hop Feng II, 9229 Lawyers Road – 91 • Kos Pool And Bar, 8829 E. W.T. Harris Blvd. – 95.5 • Los Reyes II, 7308 E. Independence Blvd. – 98 • New China Taste, 8112 Idlewild Road – 97.5 • Perry's Deli, 6727 Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road – 97 • Pho Huong Que Restaurant, 7211 E. Independence Blvd. – 97 • Sunrise Restaurant, 8923 Albemarle Road – 88.5 Charlotte (28270) • Chin Chin, 9856 Monroe Road – 94.5 • City BBQ, 1514 Galleria Blvd. – 96

• Zaxby's, 1930 Sardis Road N. – 97.5 Charlotte (28277) • The Blue Taj, 14815 Ballantyne Village Way – 99 • Buona Vita, 3419 Torringdon Way – 99.5 • Farley`s Pizzeria, 15025 Old Lancaster Hwy. – 97 • Firehouse Subs, 8020 Providence Road – 96 • Korean Restaurant (food stand, 7323 E. Independence Blvd. – 99.5 • La Victoria, 16139 Lancaster Hwy. – 94.5 • Life Time Barstro, 11220 Golf Links Drive – 98 • McAlister’s Deli, 15127 Ballancroft Pkwy. – 98 • Mod Pizza, 15127 Ballancroft Pkwy. – 97.5 • Shake Shack, 9824 Rea Road – 98.5 • Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill, 3419 Toringdon Way – 98.5 Indian Trail • BP, 7805 Idlewild Road – 100 • Chokh Di Noodle House, 14015 E. Independence Blvd. – 97.5 • Food Lion (meat market), 5850 E. U.S. 74 – 100 • Jimmy John's, 6405 Old Monroe Road – 95 • McDonalds, 303 Unionville-Indian Trail Road – 99.5 • Sileo's NY Deli, 6455 Old Monroe Road – 100 Matthews • Black Chicken Wine Cellar, 131 Mathews Station St. – 98.5 • Bonefish Grill, 10056 E. Independence Blvd. – 97 • Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1909 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 98.5 • Dorians Deli & Grill, 1240 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 97 • Food Lion (deli/bakery), 3609 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 99 • Food Lion (market), 3609 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 99 • Golden Corral, 11025 E. Independence Blvd. – 96 • Li's Noodles Asian Kitchen, 10915 Monroe Road – 99 • McAlisters Deli, 2217 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 95 • McDonalds, 11620 Waverly Center Drive – 98.5 • Osaka, 3531 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 90.5 • Panera Bread, 1904 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 93.5 • Seaboard Taproom And Wine Bar, 213 N. Trade St. – 98.5 • Tasty Crab House Matthews, 1826 Windsor Square Drive – 98 • The Exchange Pizza Depot, 213 N. Trade St. – 98.5 • The Portrait Gallery Restaurant, 118 E. Charles St. – 95 Mineral Springs • Subway/Circle K, 5905 Waxhaw Hwy. – 95 Mint Hill • Bojangles, 11420 Beaver Farms Road – 97.5 • Mint Hill Rock Store Bar-B-Q, 7032 Brighton Park Drive – 97.5 • Pour 64, 4410 Mint Hill Village Lane – 100 Monroe • Burger King, 2100 Roosevelt Blvd. – 96.5 • Circle K, 1805 N. Morgan Mill Road – 91.5 • Crossroads Diner, 4218 N.C. 218 E. – 97.5 • Dairy Queen Grill And Chill, 400 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 94.5 • Jefferson Street Deli, 107 E. Jefferson St. – 99.5 • La Herradura Mexican Restaurant, 1701 Morgan Mill Road – 92 • Los Pepe's, 1702 Walkup Ave. – 97 • Shake Shake Seafood, 2841 W. U.S. 74 – 100 • Stonebridge Golf Club, 2721 Swilcan Burn Drive – 100 • Subway, 4102 U.S. 74 W. – 98 • Takara Steakhouse And Sushi Bar, 2515 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 93.5 Pineville • Dive N, 109 N. Polk St. – 95 • Jason's Deli, 10610 Centrum Pkwy. – 97 • Longhorn Steakhouse, 10605 Centrum Pkwy. – 96.5 • Wingz American Grill, 11025 Carolina Place Pkwy. – 90 Waxhaw • Dunkin' Donuts, 8121 Kensington Drive – 98.5 • El Vallarta Mex Express, 1201 N. Broome St. – 93.5 • Food Lion (meat market), 1301 N. Broome St. – 99.5 • Food Lion (deli), 1301 N. Broome St. – 94.5 • Food Lion (produce), 1301 N. Broome St. – 98.5 • Harris Teeter (deli), 8157 Kensington Drive – 95.5 • Harris Teeter (meat & seafood), 8157 Kensington Drive – 99 • Harris Teeter (produce), 8157 Kensington Drive – 100 • Java`s Brewing Bakery and Cafe, 1526 Providence Road – 93.5 Wesley Chapel • McDonald's, 5925 Weddington Road – 95.5 • Saveeda's American Bistro, 5922 Weddington-Monroe Road – 100 • Subway, 5922 Weddington-Monroe Road – 98 • Target Pizza Hut/Starbucks, 6350 Weddington-Monroe Road – 100

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Page 4B • The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020 tic about it.” camp’s focus is to increase the Montana was hooked and Chi- number of U.S. citizens who speak (continued from page 1B) nese followed. He is now strong and teach a variety of foreign lanenough in the language, he can guages. Students who attended the grasped the language on a variety converse with waiters and staff classes were immersed in Mandarin of levels. Because the European when he eats at Chinese restau- and exclusively spoke the language dialect is divided into masculine, rants. during the three weeks except feminine and neutral pronuncia“One person at a restaurant said during lunch. tions, Sellner helped the class cat- to me, ‘Oh, you speak Mandarin Stacey Montana is the first to egorize the words by separating a Chinese better than my daughter admit her son didn’t get his paspage into three sections. does,” said Montana, who has three sion for foreign language from her. “He was so well organized, and years of the language at Wedding- A few French classes during high he liked to use the language in ton. school was the closest she came to class,” said Montana, who has takMontana’s passion for Manda- speaking it. Newhad York Syndication Sales Corporation en an honors class in German. “IThe rin himTimes enrolling in a camp “I just did that because I was re620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 think it was also his approach to the For previous two summers funded quired Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 to,” Stacey said. grammar. … He was so enthusias- byForthe federalTuesday, government. The 5, She thinks part of it came from Release November 2019

husband Matthew’s side of the family. Zach’s aunt speaks Greek, Italian, French, Spanish and Farsi-a language spoken in Iran. Montana’s cousins can also speak Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. The family members regularly converse when they get together at summer reunions in New Jersey. Wesley Kennedy taught German to Montana for the last two years and sees the hard work and talent he possesses for learning a new language. “He definitely has an aptitude for language,” Kennedy said. “And a lot of it has come on his own.

LANGUAGES

Crossword ACROSS 1 Travel aimlessly 5 Melville captain 9 Credit alternative 14 ___-Defamation League

32 In disguise for a mission 35 This-and-that dish

63 Not perfectly round

36 Only four-term prez

65 They may protect diamonds

37 Echelons

67 They usually attract (not in this puzzle, though)

38 Period after a championship

15 ___ gras 16 Loud public argument

61 Some party hirees, for short

42 Sky hue

69 Visually assess

Edited by Will Shortz 1

50 What’s hung on a clothesline

72 Papa

54 Kitchen counter crawler

24 What Apple’s mobile devices run on

55 General whose orders are sometimes carried out? 25 $$$ pro, for short 56 “Plot twist!” 27 Hippo campus? 58 “How you livin’?” 59 Midmonth occasion

L A I R A L O E P A N P T C L A I D O L L R O D E O N E M S N B O S C A B P U T D O T O O T I L L S E L E

P A I P R A M A R B R I C A H E O W L E E D S

C H E S S U P T U R N

S A O S M H P I A L T U S R G T I D E N S T A S R O O B L A Y A K S R S

C R O C

A I R K I E S V S E T B O L A T S S T E D

2 The slightest amount 3 Map books 4 “Cool” amounts 5 Updo styled with an elastic band

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE P O T U S

E L O P E

S E N S E

I R O N S

G O R E S

N O T S O

O F F R I E E N Y

22 27

41 46

52 56

55 60

1 Sashimi, e.g.

30 This-and-that dish

57 63

58 64

74 Part of BFF DOWN

29 Vexation

71 “Dibs!”

46 Singer Eartha

23 “Nope!”

19 Lovers’ rendezvous

53 Don’t go

5 15

70 Weirdo

73 Airport approximations: Abbr.

45 Seabird of colder climes

21 Pop hit?

17 Device for tapping groundwater

20 Debacle

No. 1001

6 ___ polloi 7 Is down with something 8 Its capital is Belmopan 9 Spring forward/ fall back inits. 10 Beigeish shade 11 Fans of singer Knowles, collectively 12 Actuary’s employer

PUZZLE BY ERIK AGARD

18 700, in ancient Rome

39 Abbr. between two singers’ names 22 Word before 40 Surrounding glow “favor” or 41 Signature shots “ejemplo” of Kareem 26 No ifs, ___ or Abdul-Jabbar buts 42 Looked forward 28 Prefix meaning to “eight” 43 One-named star of HBO’s 31 Fingerprint shape “Euphoria” 33 Really not look 44 Said aloud forward to 47 “Dead even!” 34 Sounds from a 48 Loses slack sty

49 Prepare for printing 51 Amer. currency 52 “Seriously!” 57 Crunches work them 60 Tater 62 Help out, as a bench-presser 64 Partner for life 66 Do recon 68 Rocket’s escape vessel

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.

13 Holds in place

He used to watch a lot of YouTube videos on languages. There were a lot of times I would come in with a lesson and he already knew a lot of what I was teaching. So, it was definitely hard work and aptitude combined.” The experiences of learning a variety of languages from his teachers influenced Montana to follow in their footsteps as he hopes to become a professor by majoring in German at UNC Charlotte. “I would love to share it with somebody who wants to learn that stuff,” Montana said. “To do that as a career, I would love it.”

GLASS (continued from page 1B)

while the other is cut into different shapes and laid upon the glass. Glass cutters are used to carve the design before pliers pull apart the pieces. She smooths the sides before putting everything back together like a puzzle. The glass is held together through a couple of techniques. One involves a soldering iron placed on the joints to keep the glass in place. The other includes wrapping copper foil around each piece of glass before the soldering iron is used. Selva prefers copper foil because of the precise detail it allows on the naturalistic scenes she creates. She also enjoys brighter colors against the transparent tones she said most people lean toward. “You can really use a lot of beautiful colors and nature is so beautiful,” Selva said. “You can express the art of glass through the scenes of nature.” The medium is not without its pitfalls. Selva suffered three herniated disks in her back caused by years of working on stained glass along with the wear and tear of everyday living. The inju-

ry made her lose the desire to create pieces for several years until friends and family encouraged her to produce her work again. “I guess it is in my blood,” Selva said. “I tried to let it go, but it wouldn’t let me.” The art form has been around since the Roman and Egyptian empires and grew as churches in Europe used them in their windows as early as 675 A.D. Selva said the medium’s popularity is down because of the economic hardship caused by the shutdown from COVID-19. The setbacks have not deterred Selva who teaches classes from her garage and produces close to 25 pieces a year. “I love it so much,” Selva said of teaching. “It’s humbling but it feels good to pass on something that to me means so much. And it is so beautiful. It’s a dying art form. It goes through stages. People like it and people don’t like it.” Want to learn more? Visit www.susansgcre ations.com to explore more of Susan Pfeiffer Selva’s artwork.

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The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020 • Page 5B

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Page 6B • The Regional Weekly • July 3, 2020

Electric supply store gets spark from helping with dream home WAXHAW – City Electric Supply Waxhaw has been involved in building St. Jude Dream Homes for several years, providing 100% of the electrical materials for projects built in the Charlotte area. But this year's fundraising campaign is especially meaningful for the branch. “Because this year’s St. Jude Dream Home is being built right here in Waxhaw, it’s a little bit more special to all of us,” branch manager Shawn Odom said. “Knowing that you helped with a dream home is always humbling. Attending the events, hearing the St. Jude families tell their success stories and how communities like ours are truly making a difference in their lives – it’s always a special moment that reminds you why you help every single year.” Organizers are selling 20,0000 tickets at $100 each for a chance to win the dream home. Proceeds go toward helping St. Jude kids and families. “The goal this year is to raise $2 million for our patients and their families to ensure they never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food – so that all a family has to worry about is helping their child live,” said Jessica Fisher, regional managing director of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The first St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway kicked off in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1991. Since then, it’s expanded to over 20 states and more than 40 cities across the U.S. “We get to see entire communities come together in support of the St. Jude mission,” Fisher said. “It’s a combination of all of these people in their different lines of work that are coming together for the same cause and building this home, which is more than just a house. There’s so much passion that is poured into it.” And though Odom has been a part of the

mission for years, he and his team still look forward to that time of year when Todd Gordon from Gordon Brothers Electrical Service in Monroe stops by the branch to pick up electrical supplies. “Any time Todd comes in for the St. Jude Dream Home, he knows he’s going to get everything free of charge,” Odom said. “Whatever he needs, we donate it. And every year, the guys at the branch are always excited to see what they can do to help.” Jeff Newton, who has built almost every St. Jude Dream Home in the Charlotte area for the past six years, said the community involvement and donations allow them to build truly remarkable homes. “Like City Electric Supply and all the volunteers who work with us to make this possible, the community involvement has been among the most satisfying parts,” Newton said. “We rely almost entirely on donations, sponsors and volunteers, and every year we get the chance to build incredible dream homes. You’d think that wouldn’t result in the best items or materials, but it actually has.” Newton especially has enjoyed seeing everyone come together. “One of the things that I’ve been blessed with has been all the great people of Charlotte. People from every background are represented in this campaign through their donations, support and volunteer work. Everyone comes together for this common good, and it gives me hope,” Newton said. “Hope in helping kids live and hope that it’s a model of what could be in our future.” Want to learn more? Visit https://www.stjude.org/give/dreamhome/charlotte.html to learn more about St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway.

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Home furnishings given luxurious backdrop CHARLOTTE – RH Charlotte, The Gallery at Phillips Place represents the brand's intent of revolutionizing retail while continuing its foray into hospitality with a glass-encased rooftop restaurant and wine bar. RH Charlotte features artistic installations of luxury home furnishings in a gallery setting, including full floors devoted to RH Interiors, Modern and Outdoor. It includes an interactive Interior Design Firm & Atelier, providing design services. “We don’t build retail stores,” CEO Gary Friedman said. “We create architecturally inspiring spaces that activate all of the senses and cannot be replicated online. It’s an immersive experience that blurs the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality, and we’re proud to introduce it to the Queen City.” At the top of a double floating staircase, visitors arrive to RH Rooftop Restaurant – a year-round skylit garden escape offering an ingredient-driven menu in a space layered with crystal chandeliers, banquette seating defined by Japanese boxwood hedging and heritage olive trees. The restaurant opens onto a landscaped park. Influenced by classical gardens of Europe, the space features a series of RH Outdoor lounge spaces with overhead canopies, trellised London plane trees and the sound of fountains. Situated just off the grand stair on the third level, a climate-controlled wine bar features curated selections from around the world, as well as limited production offerings from vintners in California’s Napa Valley. On level two, visitors will discover RH Modern and the RH Interior Design Firm & Atelier. The interactive studio features private client presentation rooms and an RH Rugs showroom presenting an exclusive collection. Visitors will also find rooms featuring RH Interiors collections from internationally renowned designers, as well as one-of-a-kind antiques and artifacts from Friedman’s travels.

What's for dinner?

Sample entrees at RH Rooftop Restaurant Rh Burger – $18 Shaved Ribeye on Charred Garlic Bread – $22 Lobster Roll – $28 Broiled Salmon – $30 Roasted Half Chicken – $32 16oz Charred Ribeye Steak – $46 RH Charlotte, The Gallery at Phillips Place, is located at 6903 Phillips Place Court. Call 704-790-4970 for details.

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