The Regional Weekly Sept. 25, 2020 by Charlotte Media Group

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Museum offers new home for Confederate monument

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DISTRICT 6 ELECTION:

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MONROE – The Museum of the Waxhaws has offered to accept the Confederate soldiers monument at the historic courthouse, which has been a lightning rod for debate in recent months. Gene Stowe, who serves on the Waxhaw museum's board of directors, told Union County commissioners Sept. 21 that the monument would be part of a comprehensive educational display. “Relocation of the monument is an opportunity to preserve and enhance historical understanding, not to erase it,” Stowe said. “The public square is a place of honor, not education. It is not designed for the level of text, audio and image material necessary for providing full context and information on the history

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The Museum of the Waxhaws has educational materials about the 1910 dedication of the Confederate solders monument in Monroe. The museum has offered to accept the monument if leaders decide to move it. CMG file photo

listened to people talk about it for two hours. Tracy Kuehler, a former county commissioner, prefers the monument stay put. She said the historic courthouse has been designated as a museum.

of the monument and its period. That is the job of museums, especially local history museums.” Stowe was among several people speaking during a public hearing about what to do with the monument. Commissioners did not engage in any debate or take action on the issue, but they

see MONUMENT, Page 4A

Pandemic prompts partners to open local market Fall festivals Mermaids are out, bingo is in, 4B

When Joel Levy noticed poor roads and potholes were plaguing parts of southern Mecklenburg County, he bought the tools and asphalt to repair Levy them. A few years later and he’s proud to say all but one of his patches are still intact. Levy said this story speaks to the kind of person he is and the representative he plans to be if elected to the District 6 seat on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. He will face two-year incumbent Susan Rodriguez-McDowell in November. Early voting begins Oct. 15. “When I see a problem, I like to fix it and my generic view is if you have the opportunity to fix it and the means to fix it, you have an owe to society to fix it,” Levy said. Levy isn’t a stranger to battling for the District 6 seat. He lost to longtime incumbent Bill James in the 2016 Republican primary. At the time, he said residents wanted a representative who was more involved, and he wanted to give them the opportunity to have a choice. Four years later and Levy wants the people of District 6 to have that choice again, especially after the county commission became all Democrat in the blue wave of 2018. “I wouldn’t want to have a completely Republican board either because Democrats have unique ideas,” he said. “I think see CHOICE, Page 2A

RodriguezMcDowell aims to keep momentum

Proper pastels Get inside Kurt A. Weiser’s art studio, 1B

by Karie Simmons

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Jason Haas and Justin Hayes opened Fullwood Market in downtown Matthews on Sept. 1. The shop sells goods made in the Carolinas and serves coffee, lunch and ice cream. Karie Simmons/CMG photos by Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com

Online vote Charity in running for $25K grant, 2A

Women's build Habitat launches inspiring fundraiser, 2A

High marks Headmaster pleased with new school, 4A

MATTHEWS – In the early stages of the pandemic, when schools and non-essential businesses were on lockdown, Justin Hayes and Jason Haas had an idea. “What if we open a market that promotes locally made products?” That idea became a reality on Sept. 1, when the duo opened Fullwood Market on East John Street in downtown Matthews. “We wanted to be a place in the community where people can get things made in the community,” Hayes said. The majority of products at Fullwood Market are made in the Carolinas and many come from the Charlotte region. Customers can buy ice cream from Two Scoops Creamery, pastries from Sunflower Baking Company, loaves of Dukes Bread and kombucha from Lenny Boy, UpDog (Winston-Salem) and Sum Bucha. There’s also drip coffee and cold brew on tap from Pure Intentions Coffee (Charlotte) and a variety of local bagged coffee from places like Mint Hill Roasting Company, Magnolia Coffee Company (Matthews) and Enderly Coffee Company (Charlotte). Shelves are stocked with unique, small batch goods like honey from Dancing Bees Farm (Monroe), Iva Jean’s Fudge (Waxhaw), elderberry syrup from Honest Elderberry Co. (Rock Hill, S.C.), pepper jelly from Noni’s Gourmet Kitchen (Matthews) and soon craft beer and wine.

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The tagline at Fullwood Market is “Local products for local people,” but the name itself is a nod to Matthews history. In the early 19th century, the settlement that would become Matthews was unofficially named Stumptown for all the stumps left from making way for cotton farms. The community’s name later changed to Fullwood after the area’s postmaster, John Miles Fullwood. He operated a stagecoach

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Out of everything Susan Rodriguez-McDowell has learned while on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, one of the biggest realizations is that Rodriguezgovernment moves slowly. McDowell The pace can be frustrating for a woman who describes herself as hardworking and engaged, but that’s why Rodriguez-McDowell seeking reelection – two years on the board is not enough. “I feel like we made a lot of progress in my first term and it was very exciting to be a part of that, but there’s a lot more to be done,” Rodriguez-McDowell said. “I think I’ve learned so much about how it works that I’m really looking forward to a second term to be able to accomplish more.” Rodriguez-McDowell, a Democrat, won the District 6 seat in 2018 by defeating 22year incumbent Bill James. She will face Joel Levy, an attorney who lost to James in the 2016 Republican primary, in November. Early voting begins Oct. 15. Rodriguez-McDowell lives in Charlotte with her husband, Gavin. The couple has three children; Kathryn is an architect, Maria is a senior and Gavin is a freshman, both at Appalachian State. District 6 stretches throughout southern Mecklenburg County from the Steele Creek area, through Pineville, Ballantyne, Matthews and Mint Hill. The area has exploded in growth and diversity in the last

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Page 2A • The Regional Weekly • Sept. 25, 2020

MOMENTUM (continued from page 1A)

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NEWSLETTER

20 years, but as it changed, Rodriguez-McDowell said residents felt more and more underrepresented at the county level. Since taking over as commissioner, Rodriguez-McDowell said she’s tried to show constituents what a good leader should be. The most noticeable difference is her physical presence in the community, she said. Rodriguez-McDowell said residents want leaders they can trust, who rely on science, care about their needs, listen, respond and are approachable. Rodriguez-McDowell said District 6 can look to the past two years as reason to trust her to lead in a second term. She’s served on the health and human services committee, among others. She also helped make Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools teachers the highest paid in the state; eliminated the child care subsidy wait for families; and sup-

CHOICE (continued from page 1A)

a completely Democratic board is equally dangerous.” Levy works as an attorney and lives in Charlotte with his wife, Monica, and their five young children. He is running a self-funded campaign to avoid the perception of being unencumbered by special interests. Instead, he wants supporters to give their money to local charities that serve neighbors in need. As a resident, Levy is an advocate for parks and greenways and supports law enforcement maintaining safe, well-policed communities. As a father, he values a strong Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system but hasn’t been impressed with his

opponent’s role so far in education. The timing of the board’s decision to support universal Pre-K didn’t make sense to Levy, who said students are still entering overcrowded environments. Levy said he would have advocated for fixing overcrowded schools before having the conversation about Pre-K. If elected to the board, Levy wants to start setting up a financial plan to get more funding for CMS. He said current interest rates are low and debt models would support capital projects to build more schools without raising taxes. Levy describes himself as a candidate with fiscally conservative ideals and a pro-growth mentality. He thinks his district deserves a leader who doesn’t advocate for annual property tax increases or push for

Greater Matthews Habitat starts campaign for Women Build

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ported funding for universal Pre-K. Still, there’s more she wants to do with education, specifically infrastructure, overcrowding burdens, land acquisition and relations with the school board. She’s also on the environmental stewardship committee and before COVIID-19, was helping develop connectivity between county parks and greenways. As board liaison for the domestic violence advisory board and the child fatality prevention and protection team, Rodriguez-McDowell has been working on a plan to build a family justice center. She said the facility would serve as a “one-stop shop” for people dealing with trauma and would house the district attorney’s office, mental health counselors, medical doctors and childcare. The steering committee is in the process of putting public-private partnerships together and identifying land for potential construction. “Thats a really exciting project that I would just be so privileged to be reelected to help work on that project,” Rodriguez-McDowell said.

MATTHEWS – Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity has launched a “Women that Inspire” fundraising campaign to honor women in the community while also raising money for its 2020 Sandy Marano Memorial Women Build. For a minimum $10 donation, you can honor a woman in your life by submitting her name at www. gmhfh.org/inspire and telling the charity why you want to honor her. Greater Matthews Habitat for Humanity will write her name on the construction materials of the home. The nonprofit will also send the honoree a letter letting them know of your gift (but not the

During her first budget retreat, Rodriguez-McDowell said commissioners made clear their number one priority would be reducing racial disparities in the county. She said the current board believes in working toward exposing those inequities and solving them. She hopes to continue that cause if reelected. “It takes a unique vision to see that and work toward solving it,” Rodriguez-McDowell said. “It’s not a given that leaders are going to say, ‘That’s really important to me,’ and I would hate for our community to be turned back. I feel like we’re making progress and I’d hate for us to turn back. “I think that’s one of the reasons why I won in 2018 was because our district has become so much more diverse than it ever was. The incumbent at the time didn’t really see that … I see that and I value that and I want to be a part of the solution in that arena.” Visit www.mcdowell4meck.com to learn more about Susan Rodriguez-McDowell.

sales tax increases. He was not in favor of last year’s referendum for a sales tax increase to support the arts, parks and other educational programs around Charlotte. He even actively campaigned against it. “I love the arts and I think they’re extraordinarily important, but I don’t think that’s where our private tax dollars should go,” Levy said. A property tax hike could come to the table in early 2021 when county commissioners discuss the budget. Levy said he wants to be in a position to stop it. “Folks all around this county can’t afford it,” he said. In addition to being an attorney, Levy has a background in municipal finance and investment management. He was a former city econo-

amount) with a photo of their name on the home. Visit www.greatermatthewshabitat.org/women build to learn more.

C.O.S.Kids eligible for $25K grant MATTHEWS – C.O.S.Kids is in the running for a $25,000 grant from State Farm to help improve the community. Adults with a valid email address can vote for their favorite cause through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 2 at www.neighborhoodassist.com. Anyone voting is allowed up to 10 votes per day. On Nov. 4, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at www.neighborhoodassist.com and a $25,000 grant will be awarded to each of the affiliated nonprofits.

mist and assistant city treasurer for the City of Charlotte. He joined the city at the height of the financial crisis and worked closely with city and county staff to develop operating budgets and revenue estimates. He also served as vice chairman of Mecklenburg County’s Board of Equalization and Review. The board’s job is to fix property tax reevaluations and handle appeals. Levy thinks his experience will be helpful on the county commission and will allow him to “pass over some of that learning curve.” “I may be new to the role, but because of my experience I can hit the ground running,” Levy said. “It’s not as if we’re hitting the reset button.” Visit www.joelformeck.com learn more about Joel Levy.

“We are so proud to be chosen in the top 10% of applicants for this grant but now we need the help of our community to vote,” said Sue Sproat, executive director. “Due to COVID-19, we have been forced to cancel our annual fall fundraiser, Backyard Blues. This grant would help us replace that lost income so that we can still provide tuition assistance to our low-income single parents.” Visit https://www.neighborhoodassist.com/en try/2033573 for details.

Correction A story in the Sept. 18 edition, “The most exciting races on the ballot,” referred to Mecklenburg County District 5 by the wrong number. The race features Laura Meier vs. Matthew Ridenhour.

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Page 4A • The Regional Weekly • Sept. 25, 2020

New headmaster pleased with Union Academy by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

MONROE – John Marshall has been impressed with the staff of Union Academy since joining the charter school as headmaster in July. He said they have navigated Marshall the reopening of school amid a global pandemic extremely well. “One of the things I'm the most proud of is how many of our teachers are here in the classroom,” Marshall said as the school was recently transitioning from virtual classes to a hybrid model of remote and in-person learning. “You hear at various schools that teachers are choosing not to come back for whatever reason. More than 90% of all of our teachers are here, they have returned and are teaching kids. “That is very gratifying. That shows me that our teachers are really committed to students. They view their work as a calling to serve children, and it's not just a job.” Union Academy plans to welcome K-4 students back to the classroom full-time Oct. 12, if parents feel comfortable, after Gov. Roy Cooper gave elementary schools the green light. Otherwise, they'll learn remotely. About 23% or 24% of families chose to stay remote when the school shifted to its hybrid model. Marshall said that's due to a couple of factors – concerns over health and how well the remote learning has been up to that point. The school, which has an enrollment shy of 2,000 students, had been running at about 35% to 40% capacity in the classrooms just after Labor Day. Social distance is maintained in classrooms and students go to the bathroom during class to avoid students from congregating in between classes. Union Academy has two full-time nurses, which many schools in the region would find to be a luxury. It also has benefited from parent volunteers pitching in with everything from serving as hallway monitors to ensuring an efficient carpool lane. Union Academy hired Marshall in January to become the charter school's fifth headmaster in its 20-year history. He has 30 years of experience within education, including more than 12 years working as headmaster at three schools and as a senior administrator at other institutions. “His diverse educational background and collaborative leadership style go hand in hand with the UA mission of educating the whole child through challenge, character and

MONUMENT (continued from page 1A)

She sees the monument as a teaching tool that initiates dialogue about the past. “Why not keep the monuments where they are so that people can explain history to their kids,” Kuehler said, “so that we can have constructive conversation about how things were and the struggles that were endured.” Surluta Anthony and Franco McGee, who serve

community,” school board chairman Jack James said in January. Marshall's father once served as president of Florida State University. After his father retired, he did a lot of work with school reform and charter schools. Marshall said it's gratifying to honor his father's work at this stage in his career. ”The mission to be a school that develops character in its young people and also holds the academic bar high – those aren't mutually exclusive,” Marshall said. “That was really what drew me here.” Marshall also has fond memories of the Tar Heel State, having played for North Carolina's ACC Championship baseball team in 1982 and earned an MBA from Duke University. Schools across the Charlotte region began converting to remote learning in March as COVID-19 was beginning to spread. Working remotely made it easier for Marshall to tie up loose end at his prior job while preparing for his new job at Union Academy – all while overseeing remote learning of his children. His preparation for Union Academy was especially unique given the interactions he needed to have with the county health department. School leadership spent a lot of time ironing out the details to gain the confidence of staff. “Since the spring, they have devoted tremendous amounts of time working with our IT department to be able to use the technology,” Marshall said of teachers preparing for remote instruction. “We sent out a parent survey and the results were just outstanding in hearing from parents how happy they were with how our teachers were delivering remote instruction.” Marshall said the pandemic has provided staff with new ways of thinking about teaching and learning that will likely extend beyond the pandemic. Students and staff may work remotely if the weather prevents the building from opening, for example. Marshall said he is also particularly impressed with Union Academy's character education program. The school uses the acronym CARROT PI(E) to sum up its values, which stands for Compassion, Adaptability, Respect, Responsibility, Optimism, Trustworthiness, Perseverance and Initiatives (Everyday). “Our faculty takes those core values to heart in their teaching,” he said. “I think we have a well-rounded program academically, athletically and artistically. I'm pleased with the extent to which we seek to develop the whole child.”

on the Monroe City Council, explained why they believe the monument should be removed to promote unity. “While history is definitely important, I think it's better served in history books rather than cement slabs,” Anthony said. “Again we're not dealing with folklore but we are dealing with reality. We are living in turbulent times – recession, COVID-19, racial awareness, racial unrest. Now is the time for unity. Now is

the time for equality and justice for all people.” While McGee said the monument represents “racism, hate and oppression,” others say it honors the soldiers who fought to protect their homes. Paul Burr, a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said commissioners can be swayed by compassion, propaganda or sentiment, but they don't really have any options under North Carolina's monument protection law.

MARKET (continued from page 1A)

depot, store and post office from his home. Fullwood was an important stagecoach stop between Charlotte and Monroe. Haas and Hayes imagine Fullwood’s store was full of goods from local people making their lives better. “If people were coming to sell stuff at the stop, it was their stuff, which is like what we do here,” Haas said. Hayes said buying local helps the local economy and the pandemic has brought that to light. Customers are willing to spend a little more to get high quality goods made by people in the community because they understand how much time, effort and passion went into making it. “I think it just resonates with people now instead of funneling more money into huge corporations,” Hayes said. “It just means more.” The kitchen at Fullwood Market opens at 11 a.m. for a full menu of house-made soups, salads and sandwiches available for dine in or take away. There’s also a grab-and-go cooler with tubs of chicken salad and pimento cheese. Hayes said they’re thinking about expanding into breakfast foods, too. For lunch, there’s a stacked menu of sandwiches like grilled hanger steak, chicken salad, pimento cheese, meatball sub, lox bagel and a unique twist on the BLT, called the TBLT. It has cornmeal fried tilapia, bacon jam, sun-dried tomato spread and spring mix on whole wheat. The chopped cheese sandwich is Hayes’ version of a cheesesteak. It has ground beef, sliced cheddar, caramelized onions and grilled peppers on a hoagie roll.

Fullwood Market in downtown Matthews sells pure raw honey from Dancing Bees Farm in Monroe, among other locally made goods. Karie Simmons/CMG photo

“It’s our homage to the New York bodega,” Hayes said. Despite any uncertainties, Haas said they weren’t scared to start a business during a pandemic. Maybe it’s their entrepreneurial spirit, but Haas said they were confident the concept of Fullwood Market would stick. Both have been in the restaurant industry for over a decade and have experience running a business together. Haas owns White Duck Taco on E. 10th St. in Charlotte, and Hayes is the kitchen manager there. The duo spent a lot of time planning Fullwood Market. Because of the pandemic, they decided to move toward less of a dinein vibe and more of a to-go place. The layout of the space lent itself more to that model anyways, Haas said. “It kind of forced our hand to rethink the traditional business model of a restaurant,” Hayes added. Want to go? Fullwood Market is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at 131 East John St., Suite B, Matthews. Visit www.fullwood market.com or call 980-339-3393 for details.

The Regional Weekly • Sept. 25, 2020 • Page 5A

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Page 6A • The Regional Weekly • Sept. 25, 2020

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Arts Entertainment ht to you By g u o Br

The Regional Weekly • Sept. 25, 2020 • Page 1B

COVID-19 prompted a government response that led to venues closing their doors. CMG file photo

OPEN LETTER

by Heting Liu

About this series Helen He, director of Junior Art League, coordinates this series, which allows youth in eighth through 12th grades to interview members of the Waxhaw Arts Council. She sees this as an opportunity for students to learn from artists while giving artists more exposure in the community.

Contributor

Kurt A. Weiser is a landscape artist who creates works in acrylic, pastel and mixed Weiser media. He mostly paints with pastels, which I think is a very cool and a special medium to paint with. There are two types of pastels – dry pastels and oil pastels. Weiser mainly uses dry pastels. I was curious about the differences among chalks, oil pastels and dry pastels. “Chalk is usually children’s chalks and chalkboard chalk. You can’t really blend color well with them,” he told me. “And for pastels, dry pastels are made with a powdered pigment and gum arabic binder, which gives

Save the music venues

it a matte finish. Oil pastels are made with pigment and a binder of oil and wax. This gives a shiny look on a painting. They are similar to oil paints but don't dry out or harden completely. Like oil painting, oil pastels can be blended and thinned.” By talking to him, I learned there’s actually a range of dry pastels. It goes from hard, to soft, to very soft and even super soft pastels. As you go softer

Kurt A. Weiser’s pastel paintings have received increased international exposure this year. His work was printed in Pratique des Arts Magazine in France and seen at a pastel exhibition at Zhuhai Cultural Center in China. Photos courtesy of the Waxhaw Arts Council

with the pastels, more pigments would get on the other layers. The softer the pastels are, the easier for them to get the color on the surface. So when you paint a pastel piece, you should initially paint with hard pastels and then move up to softer pastels which let down

more pigments on the layer below. Pastel is a fantastic art medium. It has come to its own within the past 10 years. People are finding new techniques, such as different surfaces to paint on. see PASTELS, Page 2B

NC offers almost $27M to reignite film industry by Nyamekye Daniel Contributor

(The Center Square) – Five production companies will receive nearly $27 million in grants to film projects in North Carolina. The productions are expected to generate over $107 million in state dollars and create about 8,600 jobs, Gov. Roy Cooper said. “Our state’s film industry continues to welcome new projects from prominent production companies,” Cooper said. “The industry

provides good jobs and opportunities for local businesses while showcasing on a big stage what North Carolina has to offer.” The program offers a 25% rebate to production firms with expenses ranging from $3 million to $250,000. STARZ series “Hightown” is slated to receive $12 million from the state. It will film in the Wilmington area, along with feature-film “Parkside,” which was approved for a $7 million grant. “USS Christmas” will receive $1.1 million for

filming in the area. TV movie “A Nashville Christmas Carol” and series “Delilah” from Warner Bros. Television will be shot in Charlotte. The productions will receive $1.1 million and $5.4 million grants, respectively. Filming will start in late October, Cooper said. The N.C. Department of Commerce, which administers the program, said the film industry generated $167 million in direct instate spending and created 12,000 jobs last year.

Cast and crew of “The Trial” film scenes in 2009 at The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge. Mark Freiburger, a Providence High School grad, was a co-producer and co-screenwriter of the 2010 film, which was based on a Robert Whitlow novel. CMG file photo

The breaking point has arrived. If Charlotte independent music venues don’t get the support they need soon, there won’t be any left by the time we are allowed to reopen. Independent music venues are much more than bars or restaurants with some music. They are economic engines, neighborhood centers, small business launchpads, cultural accelerators, beloved institutions and, most importantly, community builders. A recent Chicago study estimated that $1 spent at a small venue resulted in $12 of economic activity in their neighborhoods – meals, coffee, local transportation, hotels, retail, parking, etc. Can Charlotte really afford to watch local music venues close their doors for good? In March, soon after the last local live music shows, 13 local, independent music venues formed the Charlotte Independent Venue Alliance. The original impetus was to develop a shared set of safe reopening guidelines. Local venues are still committed to opening safely when they are allowed to do so, but it has become clear that without financial relief from available federal CARES Act dollars, many local venues will not reopen, ever. The Charlotte community has been incredibly supportive of local venues during the shutdown – contributing to GoFundMe fundraisers, buying merchandise and more. Local artists have played countless see VENUES, Page 3B

Year without a state fair leaves people sad, nostalgic by Kari Travis Carolina Journal News Service

RALEIGH – For the first time in more than 20 years, Chef Felicia Daniel has no plans for autumn in North Carolina. It’s a muggy, Friday afternoon on Aug. 7 when I phone Daniel, the operator of the N.C. State Fair’s popular Chef’s D’Lites concessions booth. She picks up on the second ring, and her voice lifts after I tell her why I’m calling. The pastry chef is giddy when talking about the fair. It’s her favorite time of year. For months in advance, she experiments in the kitchen, concocting deep-fried recipes to tempt hungry fair-goers. Her treats are greasy and decadent – the kind that make you crave an ice-cold lemonade to wash it all down.

After finalizing her menu, Daniel usually spends August and September preparing, pulling her trailer out of storage. She makes lists. Runs inventory. Buys supplies. Scrubs, bleaches and paints. “It is a lot of work,” she said, her voice conveying satisfaction. Not this year. North Carolina’s battle with coronavirus claimed another cultural casualty July 29 with the cancellation of the 2020 fair. The event, which would’ve spanned Oct. 15 to 25, has drawn 18 million attendees over the past decade. For many, its cancellation is understandable, but it remains a vast disappointment. The last time North Carolina called off its fair was World War II. N.C. State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said he considered every possible option, trying to ward off the

inevitable. “We have hoped, we have prayed, and we have thought and thought and thought but at the end of the day, it’s the only logical decision that we could make,” Troxler said July 29. Even in the best of years, events like this have been known to coincide with infection risks. In 2019, the N.C. Mountain State Fair, held in Fletcher, was tied to a Legionnaires outbreak. A hot tub display was the breeding ground for bacteria, news reports said. Ninety-four people were hospitalized. Four died. The N.C. Mountain State Fair and Carolina Classic Fair were also canceled in July. Founded in 1853, the state fair has see FAIR, Page 4B

Chef Felicia Daniel, owner of Chef's D’Lites, serves a crowd of customers at the N.C. State Fair. This year, a canceled state fair means Daniel will cook at home, leaving the hustle and bustle of fair preparations for whenever the state reopens its biggest agricultural celebration. Photo courtesy of Felicia Daniel

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PASTELS (continued from page 1B)

“There is a wonderful and exciting renaissance of pastels happening now, similar to

the end of the French Rev- ed now but wasn’t before. olution,” Weiser said. “All Unlike all these very classic these new different mediums and traditional painting techare actually helping pastels niques, such as oil painting Thebecause New York Salesthat Corporation now you Times can doSyndication a and acrylics have been 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 watercolorFor surface, an acrylic around for ages Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 and ages, base coat and then paint pas- there aren't a17, lot 2019 of new techFor Release Tuesday, December tels over it, which is accept- niques to bring about. With

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pastels, there are always new things to try. That’s why I think pastels are really fun.” For pastels, you don’t have to wait for anything to dry. You can layer multiple colors over each other to create more depth.

Edited by Will Shortz

Crossword 1

Page 2B • Sept. 25, 2020 • The Regional Weekly

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“You can create a really nice looking depth to your pictures because you can have 10 layers of colors over and blend with each other to create a three-dimensional scene on a two-dimensional paper,” he said. “There’s a technique called underpainting. When you do an initial underpainting, you can create a temperature or a tone of your painting. For example, I would do a yellow wash underneath a painting of sunflowers that would create a nice warm tone underneath it, and then I would layer pastels over that.” Having a father who was a talented watercolor artist, Weiser grew up surrounded by art and creativity. He majored in landscape architecture in college, which required a lot of drawings. He worked in architecture for years. He was able to manipulate the landscape, use it for function and also keep the aesthetic value of the landscape. “Thanks to that, when I went into fine art, the inspiration was almost like naturally in me and inspires me to paint landscapes,” he said happily. About 15 years ago, he and his wife moved from California back to Boston to be with his parents. His father was taking some courses at a local art place. Weiser wanted to take some courses and hang out with his father. Pastels just happened to be the course that entered his life. He loves to paint landscapes because nature is always so changeable. Even a very simple scene can look so different in different seasons and lights.

“At high noon, there’s not that much shadow, and during sunset there are some really cool long shadows,” Weiser said. “It’s a lot of fun to just look at one scene. If you look at it carefully enough, you will find that it is a beautiful picture that’s always changing.” Weiser usually takes multiple photographs before he paints. He then takes elements from the photos like a barn from one photo and a mountain range from another to construct a composition. “Strategizing a scene is very important to me because what I want to do is to create a piece of art, not just a copy of a photograph,” Weiser said. One piece can take him about 12 hours, but it’s broken into several sessions. Each session is two to three hours. Weiser likes to paint at night. He gets everything else like researching and constructing done during the day. “It’s like my brain works during the day,” he said. “I would sit down at night and just color it in and enjoy the moment I paint.” Continuous artistic creation has also changed his way of viewing the world. He has trained himself to always look for elements for his next painting. Weiser walks around outside and observes the beauty in nature such as the light that comes through the leaves of a tree. He takes a mental snap of those scenes and thinks about how to put them in a good composition. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It’s very wonderful that I can think about art all the time!”

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Page 3B • Sept. 25, 2020 • The Regional Weekly

Without live shows, artists seeking ways to reach fans by John Trump Carolina Journal News Service

RALEIGH – Will Easter is a promising North Carolina musician. A career just starting to take off. I reached him on his cell phone, and he wanted to talk. A bit busy now, though, he said. Hanging drywall. “I actually took a job in construction to make money outside of music,” he told me. Money to, well, pay the bills. Just trying to get by. It’s a common theme for musicians these days. The big acts, megastars like Tim McGraw, can schedule online shows, and people are excited to pay good money to see them. Established bands, Chapel-Hill’s Mandolin Orange, for instance, can schedule live streams, sell tickets. Some bands and artists, said Adam Lindstaedt, are trying a Zoom-like format, in which a virtual crowd can see each other, as well as the musicians. “So, you got 20 screens of different people that are watching, and you can see other people’s reaction, which kind of mimics the experience of being together,” said Lindstaedt, owner of the Pour House Music Hall and Record Shop in downtown Raleigh. Music venues throughout the state have been closed since March, when Gov. Roy Cooper ordered a statewide lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Nobody knows the answer; ev-

eryone’s trying to pivot and figure things out in real time,” Lindstaedt said. “There’s just no replacing the actual experience of being in a room with it.” Patrick May is an agent and partner with Crossover Touring, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Artists want live shows. Shuttered venues want live shows. Fans want live shows. May wants live shows. But longterm survival is paramount. May talked about Chase Rice, a country star criticized over a live show in June. May talked about a drive-in, charity concert by the Chainsmokers, which caught the attention of New York politicians after a video showed fans closer to one another than allowed under COVID-19 edicts. “The last thing the artist wants to have happen is an unsafe event, where somebody gets sick and, heaven forbid, dies on their watch,” May said. “So, there’s a lot of pressure to make sure that the events are safe. At least our company, and the artists we represent, take it very seriously.” Online streaming is evolving, he said, and it must. “The first stage (of streaming) was really cute, and everybody’s streaming from their kitchen, sort of like they’re on a life raft, saying, ‘Help me.’ The public was just over that quickly because it’s not how you normally consume video content. “You want Netflix-level access quality, high definition, great sound,” May said. “The cuteness

VENUES (continued from page 1B)

benefit livestreams. Venue owners and staff are grateful and moved by the love. Unfortunately, without additional support from local and state governments, it simply will not be enough. Independent music venues have lost nearly 100% of their revenue since the shutdown began on March 14. Music venues were the first to close and will be the last to open.

wore off quickly … it’s not easy.” Not every artist was born ready for the camera. Some never will be. “It’s changing the skills the bands need to survive,” May said. “It’s changing how we, as agents, look at artists, and how we’re going to develop them. It’s almost like the band has to grow themselves online first and have some stability and viability online, so that then maybe you can go play a small show here, there.” To stay relevant. To keep going. Venues and festivals are booking for 2021. “You’re not going to get me to say for certain that festivals will even exist next year, and some people say it’s not coming back till ’22,” May said. “Who knows? I think outdoors is probably the best hope for the future right now.” Karl Thor is a managing partner at Imurj, a collaborative music and arts venue, also in downtown Raleigh. Thor said a pent-up frustration will send people out. There’s precedent, and it’s not so pretty. Consider the dysfunctional, and ultimately failed, return of students to University of North Carolina campuses. Or those who used the nightlife of Glenwood South to experiment with herd mentality. “I think they would pack in as close as you’d let them pack in,” Thor said, “but I think there could be another, ‘OK, let’s go backwards for a bit. Let’s close down again.’ Or, they could do it gradually … outdoors, small audiences. But … you just can’t pay the band with a small

While restaurants can offer takeout and breweries have opened patios, music venues are stuck with locked doors, dark stages and a mountain of bills for mortgages and rent, utilities, taxes, insurance, licensing and staff. When Charlotte music venues can reopen their stages, they will do so safely for music fans, employees, musicians and crew. But when might that happen? We can no longer sit idle while we wait to find out. The time to save our local stages is now. Members of CIVA as well as local promoters are a part of the National Independent

Singer Will Easter has taken up construction. Photo courtesy of Will Easter

audience.” For Easter and musicians like him, it’s a bit more complicated. Easter graduated from Appalachian State University and last year released an album, “Carolina Home.” The tour dates mounted, in Western N.C., in the Triad, the Triangle. “I didn’t stop … I went 100 mph all the time, it felt like,” said Easter, who’s originally from Stokes County. Easter was playing every week, even after a 40-hour work week. He needed a break. “It became pretty hard for me,” Easter said, “and after a while I couldn’t keep up with that. I was already talking about taking a break.” For a month or so. Then this. “I got a hell of a break,” he said. Easter is focusing on his writing, the creative side of things. Getting

Venue Association and have been working to garner support for the Save Our Stages Act and RESTART Act in Congress. Unfortunately, we can’t wait for Congress. Charlotte, we’re asking for your help. CIVA recently launched a petition for support. In 24 hours, 3,672 people signed. Please sign and share it (https://sign.moveon. org/petitions/save-charlotte-stages). There are funds available at the local and state level from the federal CARES Act. These funds have to be used by the end of the year. This is no time for petty politics.

some new music recorded and out. He’s not actively looking for gigs but would be happy to play at a brewery or restaurant. With proper social distancing, of course. Somewhere outdoors. Lindstaedt is confident live music will return. When? Where? Who knows. Even after a vaccine gets to market, Lindstaedt said, a sort of post-traumatic stress disorder will linger. “Is everybody really going to be comfortable, you know, rubbing shoulders with strangers?” Something more that’s lost. For now, at least. For some time, at best. “I think it’s going to be tough,” Easter said,” just because people like me and my other buddies, who are really getting started, we’re pretty much losing a year of the momentum that we already had.”

Without support from Charlotte’s leaders, many of these community anchors will close for good, and we’ll all be left to wonder why we let it happen when the money was available. The open letter was signed by the following establishments: Amos’ Southend, The Evening Muse, Free Range Brewing, MaxxMusic, Middle C Jazz, Neighborhood Theatre, Petra’s, Skylark Social Club, Snug Harbor, The Tipsy Burro, The Thirsty Beaver, Tommy’s Pub and The Visulite.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY FAIR (continued from page 1B)

encountered its share of challenges over a run of nearly two centuries. Between 1861 and 1868, the fair was canceled due to the Civil War and reconstruction period. The state closed the fair again during World War II, between 1942 and 1945, reopening in 1946. In 2018, North Carolina’s brush with Hurricanes Florence and Michael caused a shutdown on the first day of the fair. Operations continued, however, for the remaining 10 days. Amid COVID-19, other states have continued with

fairs, adjusting events for social distancing or providing drive-through options. Delaware held its 2020 state fair from July 22 to Aug. 1. As of press time, state fairs in Kentucky and Maryland were ongoing. Georgia, South Carolina and several other states were planning modified versions of their October extravaganzas. But, in a packed environment where North Carolinians love to wander exhibits and stand in line for rides while devouring barbecue, ice cream and roasted corn, there was no modified option that could possibly offer the same experience, It’s a huge social loss, said Connie Chesner, a dedicated fair-goer from Win-

Page 4B • Sept. 25, 2020 • The Regional Weekly

ston-Salem. To her, browsing exhibit halls and talking with vendors “is like meeting neighbors you never knew you had, seeing talents you didn’t realize were right there. Just going to the fair instills stories of who you met, what you saw, what surprised you, and more.” During the summer and on Labor Day weekend, the fair hosted drive-thru options for fair food, giving fans a taste of some annual favorites. More of these events may happen later in the autumn, the state fair has said on its Facebook. Organizers usually post updates on Wednesdays. But for now, all we can do is look forward to next year’s fair — if it happens.

Dine In or Take Out! Matthews & Waxhaw

COVID-19 axes fall festivals Efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 led to the postponement and cancellation of many of the region's most cherished fall family traditions. The pandemic has already soured St. Patrick's Day, kept the Easter Bunny at bay, sank Cinco de Mayo celebrations, doused Fourth of July fireworks and killed Matthews Alive for the year. Here are the latest cancellations: • Autumn Treasures – This two-day festival is known for tickling the senses, especially with its Grill’n & Chill’n BBQ Cook-Off, sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society. • Carolina Renaissance Festival – People rely on this ongoing festival between Concord and Hunterville to flee from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives for much simpler medieval times. But if you think the fairies, mermaids and knights aren't vulnerable to COVID-19, you're living in fantasy land.

Towns salvage popular events INDIAN TRAIL – Even though the Town of Indian Trail had to cancel the annual Halloween Spooktacular, families can still enjoy a fun, safe and free event with drive-in style Halloween Bingo. Families can register for one of four HalloWINGO time slots: 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Oct. 24 at Chestnut Square Park. Advance registration is required. Each family will receive coupons/offers from local businesses. For every round of Bingo played, a winner will receive a bag of candy and other fun prizes.

The mermaids at the Carolina Renaissance Festival may have been behind glass, but the festival attracts so many visitors over the course of two months. The event was canceled. Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival • The Great Pumpkin Fest – Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang are moping around with their heads hung low at the news that Carowinds has closed for the remainder of the 2020 season. Good grief!

Pleasant Plains Dental is sponsoring the event. Other businesses interested in being a part of the event can provide a coupon/offer that will be given away to 500 families. Call 704-821-8114 to sign up to participate as a vendor. “This year’s Halloween event has to look a little different, but it’s going to be just as fun – and with just as much candy to go around!” said Hayden Kramer, parks and recreation manager. “HalloWINGO allows us to have a fun event for our families while still providing a way for local businesses to get involved.” Visit www.itsparksandrec. com for details.

Other pivoting events • Matthews – The Matthews Artwalk & MusicFest will go virtual this year. The Matthews Chamber of Commerce is calling for artists and crafters to participate in the event, which will span Oct. 3 to 17. Novant Health will be the sponsor. • Mint Hill – Usually Mint Hill holds a scarecrow decorating contest as part of its fall festival. With the festival canceled, the contest elevates to a standalone event. The community can drive around to see who has the most impressive scarecrows. At least 55 entries have been submitted for the third annual event, sponsored by Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center.

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Affordable Prices • Outstanding Customer Service Attention to Detail • Quality Workmanship

(704) 619-0253

Licensed & Insured Call today for a Free Estimate

“Affordable” Custom Moldings Picture Hanging Drywall Repairs Light Electric & Plumbing Storage Solutions

Veteran owned and operated

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

FREE ESTIMATES • INSURED

Paul Tant

Gutter Cleaning • Gutter Guard Pressure Washing • Tree Work • Polished Gutters Fully Insured

DeMARZO

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

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

• PAINTING • ROT REPAIR • PLUMBING • FLOORING

• ELECTRICAL • CERAMIC TILE • KITCHEN/BATH RENOVATIONS

Over 20 years experience | All work is guaranteed

Phone: (803)287-1971 | ptear50@gmail.com

Experienced s Insured s Reliable

Tony DeMarzo

CALL ANYTIME FOR FREE ESTIMATES

980-253-9496

Your Home CONCRETE WORK •••I G W T ••• Exterior Specialists

The handy Man

rusT

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

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

38 Years of Experience

Call Anytime!

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

Fully Insured • 20 Years Experience • Senior Discount

704-254-5381

980-622-7833

Piano Instruction -Quality, highly experienced teacher and performer -Ballantyne area •Beginners thru college level •Creative and innovative techniques •Development of performance skills including performing opportunities

Pat Moehring 704-564-4275

Locally Owned & Operated • Weekly, Bi-Weekly • 1-Time Cleaning • Move-In/Outs • Reliable & Affordable Service by Trained Professionals • Bonded, Licensed, Insured • All Equipment & Supplies Provided • Residential & Commercial • 18 Years of Experience

• Trail Building • Light Grading FREE ESTIMATES • Tractor • Small Dump Truck • Skid Loader 980-240-7358 • Trachoe • Concrete Demo 704-622-6460 • Bush Hogging • Small Trees Cut **We are licensed and insured** • Footings **We have been in business for 20 years**

BF Construction Services

or call Betty Call Bill

Your Health & Safety is Our Priority!

HELP WANTED

SATELLITE TV

Product Managers / Charlotte, NC: Manage Finzly product lines, including payments, foreign exchange, trade finance, lending, treasury, and other products. Gather client requirements for product enhancements and developing new products. Some local travel to client sites to gather product reqs. Send res to: Finzly, Inc. (FKA Swapstech Incorporated) 9335 Harris Corners Pkwy, Ste 190 Charlotte, NC 28269

Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company dba TTI Floorcare North America seeks IT Technical Lead for its Charlotte, NC office. Bachelor’s or equiv degree in Computer Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering or related field and 4 years of exp. designing, developing, testing and implementing strategies and initiatives for Supply Chain Systems required. Apply online at http://ttifloorcare. com/careers/.

DIRECTV SELECT PACKAGE! Over 150 Channels, ONLY $35/ month (for 12 mos.) Order Now! Get a $100 AT&T Visa Rewards Gift Card (some restrictions apply) CALL 1-877-666-2821 DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. Call 1-855-419-7188 EXPIRES SOON: Switch to DISH + get $50 gift card (Courtesy of Satellite Deals)! Plus get Free Premium Channels for 3 mos. & Free Installation (up to 6 rooms)! Call 888753-3635

HELP WANTED MERCHANDISE WANTED WANTED...CASH PAID! Comics, Records, Turntables, & More. Stop by Precious Restorations 10-4 Tues-Sat 315 W. John St. Downtown Matthews. 704-965-0074 Preciousrestorations.com

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

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

Lead Business Analysts in Charlotte, NC: Analyze, formalize and interpret trade finance, foreign exchange business using web services, data analysis. Collect business intelligence data from available industry reports, public information, field reports, or purchased sources. Some local travel to install and train on products for clients as reqd. Send res to: Finzly, Inc. (FKA Swapstech Incorporated) 9335 Harris Corners Pkwy, Ste 190 Charlotte, NC 28269

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE 1st Saturday-1st Saturday-1st Saturday! Sidewalk Sale! 1stSaturday of every month at Servant’s Heart! Don’t miss it! Rock bottom prices on a variety of items not usually carried in our shop! 10am5pm9229 Lawyers Rd. Mint Hill, NC 28227

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

IT Microsoft Corporation currently has the following openings in Charlotte, NC (job opportunities available at all levels, e.g., Principal, Senior and Lead levels). Software Engineers: Responsible for developing or testing comp. sw apps, systems or services. http://bit.ly/MSJobs_SDE http://bit.ly/MSJobs_IT_SDE Support Engineers / Support Escalation Engineers / Escalation Engineer: Install, configure, support & troubleshoot issues. http://bit.ly/MSJobs_Support_Eng Support Engineer: Install, configure, support & troubleshoot issues related to MSFT tech. Req dom & intl travel up to 25%. https://jobs-microsoft.icims.com/jobs/19523/go/job Multiple positions available. To view detailed job descriptions and minimum requirements, and to apply, visit the website address listed. EOE.

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

(704) 849-2261

Page 6B • The Regional Weekly • Sept. 25, 2020