INSIDE ▼ County leader shares his experience with COVID-19 PAGE 4A Friday, Jan. 21, 2022 • Vol. 15 • No. 3
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Neighbors don't want gas station by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
ABOUT US P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261 justin@cmgweekly.com charlottemediagroup.org
MINT HILL – Luther Jones Jr. assured town commissioners that he and his wife of 64 years are going to spend the rest of their lives at 5011 Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road, but their neighbors are worried about the property’s future. Jones has applied to rezone the 1.5-acre lot from residential to general business. He wrote in the application that
the purpose of the zoning change was “to give our valuable kids a place to get their goodies without having to get on our busy street and risk getting run over and killed or hurt for life.” Jones spoke for about nine minutes at the Jan. 13 public hearing, spending much of that time recounting the couple’s connection to the property. Jones mentioned the property was large enough for a convenience store, but his wife didn’t want to move. “I love her,” he said. “Her love is
number one. Love for kids is number two.” Four residents along neighboring Grove Hall Avenue said they didn’t want to see any commercial uses near their homes. L. Darnell Olowofoyeku, who serves as president of the Grove Hall board of directors, said many of her neighbors moved to Mint Hill for its rural nature and felt the area was a safe place to raise children. “To rezone the Wilgrove-Mint Hill property to commercial use would be a big mistake that will ad-
WHAT'S INSIDE:
COMING TO MATTHEWS?
Look back Remembering when the dab was cool, 2A
Town mourns Indian Trail mayor passes away, 4A
Stay off roads Winter storms can lead to wrecks, 4A
TV time Restaurant lands on Cooking Network, 4B
See story on 5A Town staff has introduced the subject of regulating electric scooters and other micromobility plans to town. Some leaders have reservations about where they should go. Photo courtesy of Lime
versely affect every homeowner in our neighborhood,” Olowofoyeku said, noting the potential for spillover commercial traffic onto their street. Mandy Jordan believes the added traffic from a gas station would create a more dangerous environment for children at the nearby school bus stop. She said there are two gas stations within a mile of the site. The Mint Hill Planning Board is scheduled to vet the plan Jan. 24. Commissioners are expected to vote on the rezoning Feb. 10.
Town budgets $4M for Fire Station No. 3 by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS Town commissioners gave Chief Rob Kinniburgh their blessing to move forward with requesting proposals for an architectural firm to perform design-build services for Fire Station No. 3. The town is budgeting $4 million, which factors inflation. From this process, the town will select an architect to provide permit-ready plans. The town will have to then find a contractor to build the station. The town issued a similar request for proposals in September 2021, but Kinniburgh told commissioners it was too broad and didn’t include a preferred delivery method and estimated budget. He chalked it up to a lack of experience as the town hasn’t built a building in more than 20 years. Commissioner John Urban, an architect by trade, wants to provide input into the bridging documents so that the town is not spending all of its budget upfront on design. Commissioner Mark Tofano requested updates on all costs, including equipment and operations, of the station. "To fully operate this fire station, we need 10 people per shift, per station," Kinniburgh told commissioners Jan. 10. "So we would be looking to hire 18 total over some period of time to staff this station and provide the 10th person on the existing companies." Mayor John Higdon said the subsidy the town provides to Idlewild Volunter Fire Department will help with some costs. "I don’t think Matthews necessarily needs a Taj Mahal, but we want a really a nice fire station that is fully adequate for what we need, Higdon said, noting the life expectancy is between 50 and 100 years."
Mecklenburg County reaches performance measures for safety by Justin Vick
justin@cmgweekly.com
CHARLOTTE – Monica Allen attributes reduced recidivism rates in the criminal justice system in part to a shift in strategy in how staff engages with clients. Staff had to change their approach due to COVID-19 closures. Allen directs strategic planning and evaluation for Mecklenburg County. She went over the county’s 2021 performance review with
county commissioners on Jan. 11. The county measures five specific goals, including community safety. The county’s goal for a safe community is to maintain an efficient and effective criminal justice system. “Because of closure they couldn’t do a lot of the face-to-face transaction with that population,” Allen explained. “They had to do a lot more going out to them.” This included providing extra outreach and access to technology.
One performance measure involves the percentage of people in the criminal justice system that don’t recidivate, Allen said. She pointed to the re-entry services program, which saw a decline in the two-year recidivism rate from 21.08% in fiscal year 2020 to 13.79% in fiscal year 2021. “We believe that the drivers for the decline in the rate is due to staff providing the clients disposable cell phones, homes with increased access to desktop computers or other
ways to access services online and a redesign of the program to make it more accessible so the clients can stay connected during the pandemic,” Allen said. The county also saw a decline in two-year recidivism rate in recovery court from 19% in fiscal year 2020 to 16.82% in fiscal year 2021. Staff attributes the decline in recovery court to drive-by case management and porch visits. “They were high-touch and high-engagement approaches,” she
said. “Program leaders also ensured access to technology so the individuals in the program can access telehealth options.” Allen acknowledged factors beyond the county’s control may have influenced these numbers, such as the decline in property crimes as more people were at home, court staff backlog and a concerted effort to use citations instead of arrests. Commissioner Elaine Powell said high-touch strategies should be considered post-COVID.
Page 2A • The Weekly • Jan. 21, 2022 Union County Weekly | 11/11/11
News Roads
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explore other options however, before pushing forward to spend the bond money. “I would encourage the council to cover all their bases,” Alvarez said. “Let’s exhaust all possibilities before putting the town into debt.”
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New council members, mayor In a town of more than 18,000 registered voters, less than 2 percent showed up at the polls, casting 1,809 ballots.
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Those who did show up voted for a new mayor and a new council. Current mayor John Quinn declined to seek reelection, endorsing Alvarez, who won with 54.56 percent or 987 votes. Current Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Goodall came in second with 792 votes and there were 30 write-in votes for various candidates. “I wish the turnout was a lot higher, but I’m humbled by the support,” Alvarez said. “I’m still in shock. Each vote means a lot to me.” Alvarez said his first priority is to open the doors to anyone who wants to help out in the town, from serving on com-
News
er wins re-election CONTACT US Fix our roads
akes vote
Holiday Auction
at the Waxhaw Elementary precinct. All Residents approve road PUBLISHER total, 17.75 percent of Waxhaw’s 6,158 widening, sidewalk bonds Adrian votersGarson cast ballots. “It was a little nerve racking,” Gardby Brian Carltonadrian@cmgweekly.com by Brian Carlton
ner said. “When the first two precincts reported, it was tight.” er took three ofMANAGING Looking toEDITOR her second term, Gardner said she hopes to focus on development Tuesday, Nov. 8Justin Vick percent of the of the downtown plan and look at ecojustin@cmgweekly.com nomic development. tion. became just the “As a region, we’re all interdependent,” Gardner said. “Hopefully we can cumbent Tues-ART DIRECTOR Union County, get together with other municipalities Lonna Koblick ngs Mayor Rick in the area and do a formal study on on. economic development.” art@cmgweekly.com Gardner hopes to build a dynamic fying and humI’m looking for- with the new board, making sure everyone’s focused on the same issues. She ears. We’ve doneADVERTISING accomplished.” Charlotte hoped theConway town council would tackle a vision plan, taking an assessment of 475 votes orcharlotte@cmgweekly.com allots cast. Lisa what’s currently going on, where the ond with 32.22 town should go next and how to achieve Former MayorSUPPORT that. Gardner also expected the town hall question to take a back seat in comwho GardnerADMINISTRATOR in 2007, came ing months, with the board focused on Aspen Earley ercent or 261 pushing forward with the library. “I expect the library question will aspen@cmgweekly.com he majority of resurface,” Gardner said. “With this Volunteer Fire group of folks, we’ll be very effecBible Church tive with getting adequate library ntary precincts. services.” q majority of votes
ncountyweekly.com
NEWSLETTER
lanes is estimated to cost $55 to $60 million. There’s $22.5 million in state funds, allocated by Indian Trail and neighboring Stallings to pay for the brian@unioncountyweekly.com portion stretching from Interstate 485 to Indian Trail Road. The state doesn’t Indian Trail residents had two mes- have the money to cover the last part, sages for their elected leaders when from Indian Trail Road to Wesley Chacasting their ballots Tuesday, Nov. 8. pel Stouts Road, on their own, so the They want roads improved and they Date: Saturday, Nov.current 12 town council left it up to the want fighting between the council and voters and residents approved the $10 million bond. All total, 1,037 voters supmayor to stop. Times: 8 AM “The last few months have– Preview been ported the measure. That’s more votes than any candidate embarrassing for us 9asAM residents,” – Live Auction Starts for either the open Indian Trail resident Cindy Turner said, mayor or council seats received. 9 AM – 1 PM – Silent Auction Voters also approved a bond to while her boyfriend cast a ballot at the Indian Trail library. Newly arrived in improve streets and sidewalks in the Location: Firstswitch Baptist town, this time by a slightly smaller Indian Trail, Cindy didn’t her Church voting registration in time take part Ave. margin. All total, 52.28 109toMorrow / Monroe, NC percent of ballots or 987 votes supported the measure. this year. “If our town is on TV, either the may- What residents don’t want however is to or’s accusing council members of some- go into debt for a park. Of those who thing or vice versa,” Turner said. “At voted, 52.57 percent opposed a bond to Overcare 200 Items for up Auction! development of the town’s 51 this point, I just don’t which one’sUpspeed to blame. I want it to stop.” acre park. Myrtle Beach Vacation Mountain Getaway While voters split on who those new Newly elected mayor Michael Alvarez leaders should they madeGolf it clear said voters made their wishes clear in Finebe, Jewelry Packages Gift Baskets whoever got the job needs to focus on the bond referendum. Antiques More!want the roads fixed, they road improvements. With 54.58 per-And“They cent of the vote, residents approved showed they want sidewalks,” Alvarez the Monroe Road widening bond. Cur- said. He plans to ask the council to rently, widening Monroe Road to four (see Roads on page 20)
to benefit Hospice of Union County
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mittees to helping with events. He hopes to get people involved and by doing so, build a sense of community. He also wants people to understand that the issues of the past are just that. “It’s in the past, time to move forward,” Alvarez said. Continuing a call he made during the campaign, Alvarez said he hopes to bring every council member, both current and those elected this year, together for a meeting, to sit down and hopefully set a new tone. After that, Alvarez said he hopes to get the council to look at several safety concerns. “As a growing town, I would encourage the council to approach the safety issues,”Alvarez said. “We need to come up with a game plan to handle the traffic. Also, people are worried about kids crossing the street from Sun Valley High to the shopping center and we need to get with the sheriff and make sure we have enough security for the new movie theater.” In the council race, three seats were open. Current council member Gary D’Onofrio declined to run again, council member John Hullinger resigned when
he moved to Phoenix, Arizona and Mayor Pro Tem Goodall’s seat was open as he chose to run for mayor instead. David Cohn collected the most votes, with 19.51 percent or 1,026 ballots. He collected the most votes in eight of the town’s 14 precincts. David Waddell came in second, with 17.24 percent of the vote or 907 votes. Chris King took the final seat, collecting 15.15 percent or 797 votes. “I’m elated that the people put their faith in me,” Cohn said. “It was like a street party at Bonterra yesterday. That puts a lot of pressure on us, to live up to their trust.” Cohn, a regional sales manager with Travis Meats, said he hoped to work with everyone on the council. “I don’t expect it to be perfect, we’re not always going to agree,” Cohn said. “But I hope we can work together to turn this into the best place to be.” Waddell said he was encouraged by the voter response. “Looking at the results, it’s a pretty good indication folks want to move forward, but in a fiscally responsible way,” Waddell said. q
Crime
Arts
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Looking Back
St., Monroe. sidewalks leading away from historic • Justin Blake Tarlton, 21, driving while impaired, N.C. 75 at WeUnion continue to celebrate Charlottedowntown Media Group's 20-year anniversary Western School Road, Waxhaw. with poles, featuring poetry with • Hikeem Rache Tyson, 19, misdemeanor assault inflicting injury, and artwork done by local school kids of (TOP) the election of Indian Trail Mayor Michael Alvarez, who 218memories E. Franklin St., Monroe. on a rotating basis. Country Day teacher • Anthony Scott Lockhart, misdemeanor larceny, 1615 Lynn LEFT) passed away28,this week; (BOTTOM a Charlotte St., Monroe. Additionally, Bland wants to talk to caught in a36,tsunami (notbuildings, in Tonga); and (BELOW) everyone dabbing as the • Marc Louis Bergeron, felony burning certain 2209 the town about letting the group paint Canterbury Lane, Monroe. Carolina Panthers were heading into the NFC Championship. Plus Howard • Jaron Michael Groomes, 21, and Kevin Michael King, 28, a mural on the Waxhaw water tower. misdemeanor larceny, 5850 W. U.S. as 74, Indian Trail.of Matthews-based Levine resigned CEO Family Or if not, let themDollar. turn it into a giant • Raymond Gene Griffin, 41, felony probation violation, Union acorn or something else to get attenCounty Jail, Monroe. • Justin Blake Tarlton, 21, driving while impaired, Waxhaw tion from people driving by. Highway, Waxhaw. The Arts Council meets on the • Reed Patrick Carroll, 16, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | 01/21/16 first Tuesday of each month, at Eight Monroe Weddington Road, Weddington. Wednesday, Nov. 9 • Andrea Leigh Brenes, 18, driving after consuming alcohol underage, 3399 Wesley Chapel Stouts Road at Orr Road, Indian January 22, 2016 Trail. • Betrina Delene Lumpkin, 41, resisting and obstructing an officer, 2013 Chadwell Court, Waxhaw. • Charles Ford, 40, resisting and obstructing an officer, 3700 Wind
School Zone Hospice of Union County
South Charlotte Weekly | 01/21/05
oTh WhiTening Special
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n Dec. 26 at about 7 a.m., Charlotte Country Day School teacher Tom Fredenberg awoke Subscribe to our free email in his hut at the Four Seasons resort in newsletter to stay on top Kuda Huraa, a small atoll island in the pleting a comprehensive any necessary we are pubofexam, everything Republic of Maldives. As he prepared for n adult cleaning may receive one professional a morning of scuba diving, the room lishing print and online, tening system for only $99 (a $450.00in value) started to rattle slightly. After a minute of as cannoT well beasreduced what subtle vibrations passed, he didn’t think These services or we’re changed much of it and departed to meet his divsharing across our social ing boat and enjoy his winter vacation. media platforms. Visit one Three Fredenberg, along Page 20 •hours Nov.later, 11-17, 2011 • Union divers on his charter, were We areof In Network Providers for Delta, Unitedother Healthcare. our websites for aCigna, linkMettoLife, Humana and with returning to the boat after completing a subscribe. dive. Immediately, everyone noticed
We accept and submit for most insurance plans.
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See Story • Page 10
KEEP POUNDING
Christian Montessori School – The Clark addresses state of CMS Huntersville school hosted a “Muffins Ann Clark addressed school system concerns, including student asfor Miracles” bake sale last Thursday signment, the teacher pipeline and and Friday. So far, more than $1,200 superintendent search.. Page 11 has been raised. Also, Grace Mobility was on campus to collect mobility products to send to disabled people in needy areas. Alexander Graham Middle School – Students brainstormed in their classes Thomas leads Indy to big win about ways the school could help the Independence senior Marcus Thomas scored a game-high 22 tsunami survivors. They decided to points to hand rival Butler its first conference loss. Page 17 host a walk-a-thon. The sixth- and seventh-graders walked Jan. 13 and raised $14,065. The eighth-graders walked Wednesday, Jan. 19. (Total amount Kids across the county are showing Panther Pride to support their hometown team headed to the NFC Championship. Mayor Jennifer raisedRoberts wasdeclared not January available at month press time.) "Panthers Pride" last week, and students at Charlotte Christian celebrated by wearing their Panthers gear to school. St. Patrick’s School – Students raffled off a life-size cardboard of 9 | Education 11 | Faith 13 | Calendar 14 | Sports 16 | Classifieds 19 News Briefs 6 | Opinioncutout 7 | Crime Blotter Jake Delhomme. Sponsored by student council, the raffle raised $807. www.unioncountyweekly.com The money was donated to Friends of the World Food program. Fifth-grader Mia Kane won the Jan. 14 raffle.
Saturday, December 3, 3pm Downtown Indian Trail
something was wrong. Several huts floated past them in the water. And the sparkling blue waters that draw tourists from around the globe were churning with debris, Fredenberg recalled. They realized something terrible had happened when they saw people in the sea. “We pulled five people out of the water,” Fredenberg said, adding that the distraught victims kept saying, “A wave hit. A wave hit.” County Weekly During the diving trip, a wave had swept over the island chain. “The wave was about 6 feet by the time it hit the
Tom Fredenberg shares his tsunami experience with Country Day fourth-graders. Kathryn Daniel/CW photo
island. … So people were holding onto trees. People were holding onto buildings that were not knocked over.” A day after the tsunami struck, Fredenberg and other tourists were flown out of the region. “Many of the people never took their life jackets off again,” he said. “They even wore them onto the plane because they were just so shaken.”
For a parade entry form please visit www.indiantrail.org or contact Robin McGrath 704-821-2960.
Union County Weekly • Nov. 11-17, 2011 • Page 3
Page
Parks and Recreation Department has planned for 2016. Page 8
Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
Cureton town Center | 8175-A Kensington Dr | wAxhAw, nC 28173 Located in Cureton town Center next to Moe’s Mon- thurs 7:30 - 4:30 AnD FriDAys by AppointMent.
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With Howard Levine’s resignation, 1,200 local employees concerned for their jobs
TSUNAMI FUND-RAISERS
Charlotte Country Day teacher recounts visit to southern Asia rving Waxhaw and Weddington
Accepting New Patients!
Family Dollar CEO Out
(see Crime on page 21)
‘s A Wonderful Life
Dr. Angela M. Dr. Eric T. Surviving the tsunami Haller Schimpfhauser
By Kathryn Daniel
Legged Gallery. Their next fundraiser will be Dec. 2 from 5:30 to 9:30, as part of First Friday. The event will be Vol. 9 No. 4 at the Bean & Belle Arts Studio, 103 S. www.matthewsmiNthillweekly.com Main Street, highlighting more and Rec preview than 25 painters, photographers, Parks pota look at the events, festivals ters, printers and musicians. q Take and special activities Matthews
14 • Jan. 21-27, 2005 • Charlotte Weekly
(more on page 17)
Photo courtesy of Charlotte Christian
Page 4A • The Weekly • Jan. 21, 2022
Responders urge people to stay off roads during storms CHARLOTTE – The National Weather Service announced Jan. 19 that winter weather was possible on Jan. 21 and 22 just as the last of the snow and ice from last weekend’s storm melts. Conditions may develop in such a way that the region gets a mix of snow, sleet or freezing rain. “A lot of uncertainty remains,” according to a tweet from the National Weather Service’s Greenville-Spartanburg office. Winter Storm Izzy reached the region late Jan. 22 and left Jan. 23. Emergency personnel urged the community to prepare for the storm by getting a few days worth
of supplies in case the power went out. They also urged people to stay off the roads. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to 41 crashes from midnight to mid-day Jan. 23 with 25 involving property damage and 16 resulting in injury, according to Maj, David Robinson. The Charlotte Fire Department called in extra personnel to assist with the winter storm, but the agency experienced normal call volume for a Sunday in January, according to Division Chief Larry Fitzgerald. “Most of the storm-related calls
that we have had so far have been traffic accidents,” Fitzgerald said. “Several of those have been on interstate highways.” Grace Nelson, of Medic, said her agency has had 11 transports for traffic accident calls since 4 a.m. “That is thankfully not a large increase from what we typically see,” Nelson said. “Obviously, we remain concerned about road conditions, particularly in the overnight hours ahead.” She encouraged people to stay off the roads to help emergency personnel get to patients with life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest, strokes and
COVID-19. Robert Graham, deputy director of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management, said there were no significant reports of downed trees or power outages at critical infrastructure sites. About 800 people were without power in Mecklenburg County. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management worked with the American Red Cross to set up shelters for people in need of a warm place to stay. One shelter opened at noon at Crews Recreation Center in Matthews. Graham also said roads during winter storms should be for essen-
tial personnel. “When you’re on the roads and folks have accidents that are not part of the essential services, it really creates problems for our ability to get things done within the city and county,” Graham said. Storm reminders • Don’t overdue the shoveling and plowing. You don’t want to call 911 for shortness of breath and chest pain. • Stay away from downed power lines, even if they appear dead. • Be careful with power tools or generators. Make sure you are using them properly.
Dunlap recounts COVID-19 experience by George Dunlap Mecklenburg County commissioner
We oftentimes say we have to learn to live with COVID, but we don’t really know what that means. So I’ve been talking to some of my friends in the medical field to kind of understand. What they’ve said to me is – I don’t know how true all this is but just repeating – that COVID is almost going to be like the common cold. It’s not a matter of if you’ll get it. It’s a matter of when you get it. We’re beginning to see that and experience that now as over the holidays as careful as I’ve been for over two years, I was tested positive for COVID. The one thing that I realized from that experience was that I was not wearing an N95 nor a surgical mask, because to be quite honest with you, I liked that cute little black mask that had the county logo on the side of it. But what I learned was that mask provided us with very little protection. We basically said to our community wear a mask, wear a mask and people are complying. They are wearing a mask. But we didn’t think about the fact that any mask is better than no mask. The fact is the cloth mask doesn’t provide protection. I think the message needs to be refined to say that if you are going to wear a cute mask, wear a surgical mask or an N95 under the mask. We need to change our information to make sure that people understand that. The thing that probably made it clear for me was the candle test that they did on the national news and you could really see the difference in breathing on a candle from a cloth mask versus the N95. The fact is (COVID) is running rampant in our community. It is sort of like carbon monoxide. You can’t see it.
It is odorless It’s tasteless and you never really know when you’re going to get it. What I have learned from talking to different people is that different people have different experiences when they get COVID. I was expecting to really have a hard time given what I had heard about people who had COVID. I had a little tickle in my throat and I said to a friend I got this little tickle in my throat, but it’s normal because I get it every year because I have allergies. I just expected that it was a little cold, and they encouraged me to go get tested. I talked to Dr. Washington. He said, your little tickle isn’t just a little tickle anymore. It’s COVID. I went and I tested positive for COVID but that was the only symptom I had. So for those of us who are looking for us to have sweat balls coming down and all this other stuff, that may not happen. So I got a tickle in my throat. I had no loss of taste, no loss of smell. I had no headaches. I had no fever. But I tested positive. No, I definitely didn’t lose my appetite. I gained weight. People who don’t suspect they have COVID might end up testing positive for COVID if they if they go get tested. Nobody wants to be responsible for infecting someone else especially somebody who is not vaccinated and who might feel the symptoms a whole lot worse than we do. I have a couple of friends. One is a anti-vax who is a nurse, caught COVID and had a really difficult time. What I learned is that all of us who have had COVID, most of us have been vaccinated and boosted, yet we still caught COVID. But the effects of the COVID is much different than those people who are unvaccinated. As my pastor tells people every Sunday, you don’t have to die from this. Go get vaccinated.
Michael Alvarez served as mayor of Indian Trail since 2011. He passed away on Jan. 19. CMG file photo
Alvarez passes away The Town of Indian Trail announced Jan. 19 that Mayor Michael Alvarez had passed away. Alvarez has long endured health problems. He was diagnosed with lupus as a child and survived organ failure and kidney transplants. In recent years, he battled angiosarcoma, a cancer affecting the arteries, and had to get his arm amputated. Still, he remained in good spirits. During the pandemic, he encouraged citizens to look
out for one another. Alvarez was a compassionate mayor who volunteered for various causes. He also was firey when it came to government red tape and political bickering. Our staff learned the news while in production for this week's edition. Union County Weekly will publish a tribute for the Jan. 28 edition as well as online content that looks back at his 10plus years as mayor. – Justin Vick
The Weekly • Jan. 21, 2022 • Page 5A
Matthews leaders discuss e-scooters by Justin Vick
justin@cmgweekly.com
MATTHEWS – Town leaders are willing to allow electric scooters in Matthews but some would prefer they not be used on sidewalks or on Trade Street. Senior Planner Nadine Bennett introduced the concept of micromobility to commissioners during their Jan. 10 meeting. This refers to modes of transportation such as electric scooters or bikes that are shared among multiple users. Bird, an e-mobility provider, approached the town in March 2021 about coming to Matthews. The company uses a local partner or fleet manager to manage the program. Matthews could start out with as few as 50 units and terminate the agreement with 30 days notice, according to Bennett. Bennett shared some of the benefits of e-scooters include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, additional transportation options and expanded reach of public transportation by adding first- and last-mile connections. For example, a resident could in theory take a bus to the stop on Trade Street and use an electric scooter to go to the U.S. Post Office. The biggest drawback is accidents, which Bennett said can occur with factors such as roadway conditions, like potholes or cracks in pavement, as well as alcohol,
speed and inexperience. Bird has the capability to limit how fast and where scooters can go. “We’ve been back and forth on whether we want to allow them on Trade Street,” Bennett said of town staff. “Right now we think we wouldn’t because of potential scooter and pedestrian conflict. But again, we’re still talking about that.” While most communities ban e-scooters from sidewalks, Bennett said town staff wants to allow them on sidewalks because they would be safer there than on roads. Commissioner Mark Tofano said having e-scooters would be a great boon to the town, adding that young people love them and they are a great way to travel. He doesn’t support them being used on sidewalks. “Under no circumstances should they be allowed on the sidewalk,” Tofano said. “It is an extraordinarily dangerous situation. They run at high speeds and they literally take control of the sidewalks.” Commissioner Gina Hoover agreed with Tofano that they shouldn’t be allowed on sidewalks. She doesn’t want to see them on Trade Street either. She’d like to see more info on it, such as how many accidents Charlotte has logged. “I’m just really concerned with people riding around on the street on these scooters,” Hoover said. “It’s just
really questionable for me with the safety.” Commissioner Renee Garner said some residents are already riding scooters in town and she believes micromobility provides last-mile transportation that will be helpful with planning for the LYNX Silver Line. “I think this is filling in gaps of transportation that we currently don’t cover in Matthews,” Garner said. “It could encourage movement from downtown out to like the Sportsplex. Any sort of change in technology is a little bit intimidating, but I think there are enough measures in place that we can come up with a micromobility ordinance that will keep both pedestrians and scooter riders safe.” Mayor John Higdon said he would support going through with a trial run and pull out if necessary. Tofano shared concerns about the amount of authority a draft ordinance Bennett introduced grants the town manager, namely how the manager can revoke licenses and deny appeals. Commissioner John Urban said he didn’t have a problem with the authority given to the town manager. He said that if the town manager went rogue, the town board could stop it. “I hear so many other more critical concerns about safety, speed and location than I am worried about the town manager going rogue over scooters,” Urban said.
NEWS BRIEFS Mayor not happy with view of garages from road MINT HILL – Mayor Brad Simmons worries that granting an exception to the developers of McEwen Manor would create somewhat of an eyesore in the downtown area. Charlotte Water doesn’t want to grant a sewer extension through private alleys to the development at 11631 Lawyers Road, so Tim Arey has approached the town about converting the private alleys into public streets. Twenty-six houses would have their rear garages fronting public streets. They would front open space. The prospect of driving down public streets in Mint Hill and encountering rear garages on both sides of the road bothered Simmons. He requested Arey provide commissioners and the planning board some elevations of what this would look like. The request will go before the planning board Jan. 24 and commissioners Feb. 10.
Elevations approved for Matthews Commerce Center MATTHEWS – Town commissioners have approved a site plan and elevations for the last building going into Matthews Commerce Center behind Dentist Salud and Point Blank Range. Commissioners approved the site plan Dec. 13, but commissioners Renee Garner and John Urban requested the developer go back and
refine the building facade. The development team returned Jan. 10 with a recessed brick pattern, wall lighting, slightly tinted windows and a commitment to screen all roof-mounted mechanical equipment. “We’re really thankful for the applicant to go back and make those requested changes,” Mayor John Higdon said. “I think we’ve got a better building because of it.”
Town OKs look of housing MATTHEWS – Town commissioners have approved elevations for a 163-unit housing project by Two Capital Partners that will consist of 100 flats, 26 townhomes and 37 single-family rental cottages on Overcash and Northeast Parkway. The conditional rezoning was approved back in March 2021, but Two Capital Partners had to come back with visuals of what the development area A and B would look like. Commissioners approved elevations for development area A last month. That area includes apartments and retail. They approved development area B on Jan. 10. That area includes townhomes and single-family units. Wes Taubel, president of Two Capital Partners, told commissioners his team was trying to create a mill-type feel.
Find these stories at www.matthewsmint hillweekly.com to see renderings.
THRIVE OVER 55 The Weekly • Jan. 21, 2022 • Page 1B
Housing plan can’t overcome traffic worries by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com
MONROE – City council shot down a zoning request that would have brought more age-restricted housing to Monroe. Developers pitched Blair Place, a 100-lot subdivision for 51.8 acres on Fowler Secrest Road. The proj-
ect’s entrance would have lined up with that of Woodridge Assisted Living & Memory Care. At least 80% of age-restricted housing must have at least one permanent occupant age 55 or older. Kyle DiPretoro, of BRD Land and Investment I LP, told the council that not only do such developments generate significantly less traffic, but they result in fewer cars
during the peak hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Seven residents spoke out against Blair Place during the Jan. 11 public hearing. Their concerns included traffic, enforcement of age-restricted rules and some of the assertions by the development team about older adults. David Dotson was skeptical that people in Blair Place would not be
driving. By the time he reaches age 55, Dotson said his daughter would be learning how to drive. Mary Blythe Chapman said she and her husband are on the cusp of 55 and have four cars in their yard. Monroe City Council voted 5-2 to deny the proposal. Members Freddie Gordon and Angelia James were in the minority. “Traffic is horrible and it would
Filling in the
Missing middle
CHARLOTTE – Arden, a new brand of 55+ active adult living, will break ground on four developments in the greater Charlotte area in 2022, with further plans to expand across the Southeast. Arden strives to provide a modern concept in rental community living for residents 55+ at an attainable monthly price point. “We are excited to offer a new option for active adults that offers the perks of age-qualified living at rates more consistent with traditional multi-family housing apartment homes,” said Jim Lindsey, managing partner of Arden 55+ Living. “In doing this, we hope to open up the benefits of community living to more people and address the housing needs of the missing middle population.” Each community welcomes residents with a variety of amenities that encourage social and community engagement. Amenities feature access to over 8,000 square feet of flexible shared spaces including a spacious gathering room, a health and wellness room, a fitness center with in-person and on-de-
mand classes, outdoor grilling and dining areas, a Pickleball court, outdoor lounges and an on-site dog park. “At the core of Arden, we strive to provide residents the opportunity to live their best life through our community programs, convenient offerings of a la carte resources and active living partnerships,” said Kevin Woodley, managing partner of Arden 55+ Living. “We are building a community to enhance the active adult lifestyle today while ensuring our properties are ready for the tech-enabled residents of tomorrow.” Future Arden locations include Huntersville, Indian Land, Matthews and the Mallard Creek area of Charlotte. Arden is also planning projects in the Raleigh, South Carolina and Georgia markets, with ongoing plans for expansion throughout the Southeast. These locations are carefully selected areas near thriving cities, with access to best-in-class health systems as well as cultural and educational attractions. Visit www.onearden.com to learn more about Arden.
Weiland earns SCORE Charlotte’s top award SCORE Charlotte in outreach and special projects such as Beatties Ford Road Corridor Project and community service activities, events and other SCORE Charlotte activities behind the scenes.” Harwell noted that in 2021, she mentored 24 clients and amassed 102 sessions for over 136 mentoring hours. Before joining SCORE Charlotte, Weiland was president of her own company specializing in public relations and marketing communications for nonprofits and small businesses, especially start-ups. Weiland is an active member of the Public Relations Society of America, National Federation of Press Women, North Carolina Press Club, Charlotte Writers Club and the Connecticut Press Club, where she is a life member. “I struck gold in being paired with Juliette Weiland as my mentor,” noted one of her clients in a chapter survey. “Her wealth of knowledge, commitment to the project as demonstrated through her research and references and her professionalism coupled with good humor have
Tony Marciano Reverend
My New Year’s Resolution broke
Photos courtesy of Arden 55+ Living
CHARLOTTE – SCORE Charlotte recently awarded its highest honor, the Dick O’Brien Award, to Waxhaw resident Juliette Weiland in recognition of her six years of volunteer service. She spent most of the six years at SCORE Charlotte on the board of directors and as chapter president in 2019 and 2020. Weiland The Dick O’Brien Award is SCORE Charlotte’s top recognition of a chapter member for exemplary volunteer service. It has been awarded annually since 2005 and is named for a former chapter chair who volunteered to help entrepreneurs, small businesses and nonprofits achieve success. O’Brien passed away in 2005. “This year’s recipient is a woman who has led our chapter through two of its toughest years and major transitions in technology and virtual world,” said Helen Ruth “HR” Harwell, SCORE Charlotte president co-chair. “She is always assisting
only get worse,” Council Member Lynn Keziah said. “Second, in my opinion, you’re going to drag down the quality of life when you put in danger kids and anybody else who drives Fowler Secrest.” Mayor Pro Tem Gary Anderson said he lives in that area and experiences the traffic there every day. “I do think the growth right now in that area is too much,” he said.
kept me accountable and growing as she helped me navigate the multiple layers of starting and sustaining a business.” Another client said Juliette “helped me tremendously with ideas, moral support and resources and reassures me that I am on the right path in my business.” SCORE Charlotte consists of 93 active or retired business executives and owners. Due to the coronavirus, SCORE Charlotte set up remote mentoring sessions via phone, e-mail and videos such as Zoom for its new and existing clients, small business owners or those wanting to start-up, expand or re-open an existing business. For the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2021, SCORE Charlotte served over 1,500 unique clients in almost 2,700 individual sessions and held over 120 workshops attended by over 1,800 attendees throughout its 16-county area in the Carolinas. Want to learn more? Go to www.Charlotte.Score.org or call 704-344-6576 for more details.
Having been inspired by a Ted Talk by Shawn Achor, I begin journaling over two years ago. The instructions were to write down three things I was grateful for, journal one positive experience, and do one random act of kindness. I was also to exercise and meditate. I ignored those last two items. For over two and a half years, I faithfully journaled, including when I was out of town on vacation. I kept reading articles about the importance of exercise and meditation. My stubbornness caused me to say what I was doing was enough. But was it? As I came to my 900th entry, I decided to add the two remaining activities. Some time ago, I converted my wife’s 10-speed bike she purchased in the mid-1980s into an exercise bike. The rear tire was suspended on a roller. When I set it up, it worked fine. More recently, it leaned to the left when I pedaled. Then I shifted gears and the chain came off. As I went to put the chain on the sprocket, I saw that the gears had separated from the rim. How was I going to keep my New Year’s resolution when the bike was in pieces? I took the rim off the bike and the sprocket fell off the rim. One of the pins that allow it to freely spin came off. I managed to get that back on. There was a cover under which were only six ball bearings. It required a lot more. They were somewhere on the floor. I put the cover back on hoping it would work. Knowing I was in over my head, I asked my wife to help me. She found all the bearings. There was hope we could put this back together. There was nothing holding the cover in place that kept the bearings from falling out. Don’t laugh , but I used two garden hose rubber washers. In concept it worked, but not in reality. My wife kept encouraging me to find a solution. I explained a piece of flat sheet metal would be too thin and would fall out. I watched enough home improvement videos to see them cut slots in thicker steel. I found a thick flat washer and cut it so it was “C” shaped. It didn’t fit, so I had to widen the opening. It was a little better but there was a bur in the steel I had to file down. Again, a little bit better but it wouldn’t go on. More filing and more fitting. My wife took the hammer and started to tap it in place. It started to move. I added a punch which she tapped. It started to go on. I had her stop. I knew we were approaching the point of no return. If I got it on, it wasn’t coming off. Again, I filed a little more and put it on the axle. With the punch in place, she tapped it and it went on. It was thick enough that it wasn’t coming out. It was held in place between the nut and the top of the bearing cap. We put the axle back on the bike. I tried it and it worked. Someone once said that “encouragement” is putting “courage in.” That’s what my wife did – she put the courage into me that we could fix this 35-year-old bike axle with the tools and materials we had at home. As we begin this new year, you may be someone else’s “encourager.” You may be the one to put courage into them so they can accomplish the task at hand. I’ll be back soon. Until then, live well my friend. The Rev. Tony Marciano is the president/CEO of Charlotte Rescue Mission. He is available to speak to your group. Go to www.charlotterescuemission.org for details.
Page 2B • The Weekly • Jan. 21, 2022
Make sure your COVID test is real
Attorney general shares top complaints RALEIGH – Attorney General Josh Stein recently shared the top 10 consumer complaints North Carolinians filed with the North Carolina Department of Justice in 2021 in the department’s 2021 annual report. The report also covers the breadth of the department’s work last year to protect North Carolinians from scams and frauds, defend the state and its people, protect communities, defend people’s rights, and serve the state through the State Crime Lab, North Carolina Justice Academy, and law enforcement Training and Standards Commissions. “Robocallers continue be a daily nuisance and a threat to our hard-earned money,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “I know how frustrating it is to get these calls and texts all the time. That’s why I’m leading the nationwide charge to partner with other
attorneys general, federal agencies, and the phone companies to put in place technological solutions to stop robocalls and to go after robocallers who scam North Carolinians. I’ll continue our efforts to cut down on robocalls in 2022 and get back our peace of mind.” In 2021, NCDOJ received 28,043 consumer complaints. Last year, Stein and the Consumer Protection Division won back more than $2.1 billion in court judgments and settlements on behalf of North Carolinians, including money secured in agreements to hold accountable corporations that contributed to the opioid epidemic and addiction in North Carolina. In addition, Stein’s Medicaid Investigations Division recovered more than $105 million in restitution and penalties related to Medicaid fraud cases.
The annual report also delves into the office’s work serving as counsel to state agencies, protecting children from nicotine addiction, preserving North Carolina’s environment and natural resources, getting justice for victims and survivors of crime, and improving the criminal justice system. “I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve done at the Department of Justice to win back more than $2.5 billion on behalf of North Carolina and its people since I took office,” Stein said. “The progress we’ve made to keep people safe, protect our communities, and defend consumers is only possible because of the dedication of the talented public servants in every division and department. It’s an honor to work with them in these challenging times, and I’m ever grateful for their commitment to North Carolinians.”
This winter’s spike in COVID-19 cases has more people than ever looking for tests. This has given rise to a new con: phony websites and suspicious in-person testing sites used to collect personal and insurance information, according to the Better Business Bureau. How the scam works Several websites appear after an online search for a COVID-19 testing site in your area, and a testing clinic affiliated with a local pharmacy or a pop-up run by a local group is selected. In one version of the scam, you arrive at the testing site and asked to complete a form with personal information, your driver’s license and medical insurance cards are photographed. A swab is done and a promise is made that test results will arrive with. The test is a fake. The results never arrive. They just wanted your information. In another version of this con, you complete an online appointment form with personal, insurance, and medical information. In some cases, a small fee is paid. But, on the day of the appointment, the pharmacy has no record of your reservation. How to avoid testing scams • Understand the COVID-19 testing options in your area. • Only get tested at authorized testing sites or health centers. • Watch out for lookalike websites. • Be wary of unsolicited callers and messages. • Read the fine print.
What you should know before applying for retirement benefits by Lisa Wallace Social Security Public Affairs
Thinking about retiring and applying for Social Security retirement benefits? Our online tools can make your planning easier. Visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount to access your personal my Social Security account to get an instant and personalized estimate of your retirement benefits based on your earnings record.
It is important that your earnings record is correct because we base your benefit amount on the earnings reported to us. If you find an error, you will want to contact us to get your information corrected. Read our publication, How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10081. pdf, to learn how. You can also get benefit estimates based on different retirement ages, and choose the best retirement age for you. Don’t have a personal
my Social Security account? You can create one today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. When you’re ready to apply for Social Security retirement benefits, you can complete your application online in as little as 15 minutes at www.ssa.gov/retirement. We will contact you if we need any more information. You can check the status of your application with your personal my Social Security account. You can apply online for your Social Security retirement benefits, and for benefits as a
spouse, if you meet all the following criteria: You must be at least age 62 for the entire month to be eligible to receive benefits. You are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record. You have not already applied for retirement benefits. You want your benefits to start no later than four months in the future. (We cannot process your application if you apply for benefits more than four months in advance.) On the web: www.ssa.gov/onlineservices
The Weekly • Jan. 21, 2022 • Page 3B
Page 4B • The Weekly • Jan. 21, 2022
Soul Gastrolounge owners launch European-inspired cafe CHARLOTTE – Sister, a European-inspired all-day cafe, is set to open Jan. 28 at 1500 Central Ave. in Plaza Midwood, in the space that formerly housed Kiki Bistro. “Seeing the changes that are coming to this neighborhood, and the influx of newcomers, we feel this is the right time to expand and offer our product and services to more people, as it has been requested by our guests,” said restaurateur Andy Kastanas, who with wife Lesa, has had an immeasurable impact on the hospitality and retail scene in Charlotte since the 1990s. The couple has been involved in ownership or management of some of the most iconic spots in Charlotte, including Mythos, Cosmos, The Diamond and CLTCH. Their ability to forecast trends and shifts in consumer demand helped define the city, particularly the corner of Central and Pecan in Plaza Midwood, anchored by Soul Gastrolounge. “We opened Soul in this neighborhood more than 13 years ago, and moved here shortly after,” Kastanas said. “We are committed to its spirit, diversity, and vibe. We are also committed to keeping that spirit alive, considering the changes that are coming.” Sister, the younger restaurant sibling of Soul, will celebrate the Greek and Eastern Mediterranean fare featured heavily on the menu at Kiki, with some Soul classics. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant includes the rooftop terrace and Tattoo Liquor Lounge (which will remain). Soul Executive Chef Jay Pound and Beverage Director Kelly Minton will head those respective areas for Sister as well. Given Andy Kastanas’ background and in the tradition of Soul, Sister will have live DJs on weekend evenings. Scott Weaver and Jason Herring will play eclectic sets of chill house music. “For years, we’ve had many requests for lunch at Soul,” Kastanas said. “Since Soul is more of a dinner only adult establishment, we are offering those items at Sister. It’ll be more like a daytime all-inclusive version of
Sister will offer a variety of breakfast bowls and small plates. Peter Taylor/Taylor Photography
Soul.” In addition, Sister will serve breakfast bowls, coffee and matcha, and Greek pastries such as phyllo hand pies (Spanakopita, Tyropita, Jambonopita, Bougatsa), Peinirli (pastrami, cheese and egg pizza boat), Croissants, Baklava, Kok (mini round éclairs), Sokolatina (Cream Chocolate Custard Cakes), Mille Feuille (Almond Napoleon) and muffins. Plans are to launch brunch in late spring, Kastanas said. The lunch menu will feature salads, small plates and a lunch casserole special of Greek favorites like Moussaka, Spanakopita, Pastichio and others served with side Greek salad for $12. Sister diners will have the chance to eat Soul favorites such as Asian Glazed Pork Belly Tacos, Fried Brussel Sprouts and Anchovy Fries for lunch. From the Kiki menu, expect dishes such as house-made Gyros, Souvlaki, Pastichio and vegan items like the Pop-Lies and Trik-fil-a sandwiches, Dolmades, Eggplant Imam and Cauliflower Mushroom Manestra.
Plaza Midwood interior designer, artist and musician Scott Weaver is managing decor changes for the space, including the addition of a mural by artist Rodney Raines, and another on the terrace by David Harwood. The launch of Sister matches the shifting needs of the neighborhood, said Alex Holladay, Kastanas’ daughter and business manager, and the changing realities of our workfrom-home lives over the past two years. Sister is a concept that is flexible in approach, menu and operating hours. “Plaza Midwood is so walkable, and there are a lot of young families looking for a locally owned place to grab a cup of coffee and a bite, a place to hang with their friends and babies,” Holladay said. Want to go? Initial hours for Sister will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. On the web: sisterclt.com and instagram.
What The Fries to appear on TV show DINING SCORES CHARLOTTE – What The Fries, What The Fries chefs and co-owners Jamie the south Charlotte restaurant speBarnes and Greg cializing in gourmet loaded fries, will Williams are no be featured on season 16 of Cooking strangers to Channel’s “Food Paradise.” television. The “Food Paradise’’ is a long-running restaurant has roots food series that features must-see food on TV. Photo courtesy of spots across the country that offer What The Fries unique dining experiences. The show airs on Cooking Channel, Food Network and Discovery+ streaming services. “Having an opportunity like this Chef/co-owner Jamie Barnes adds, “Southern and Hungry” in 2018 and to showcase our food, our first restau- “We hope this will help set us apart “Food Paradise” in 2022. rant and our people at a national level and tell the story of how we are more The first What The Fries restaurant is just amazing,” chef/co-owner Greg than just fries; what we offer is an el- opened in March 2021. The restaurant Williams said. evated and unexpected culinary expe- is located at 10707 Park Road, Suite F. The “Retro Remix” episode airs Jan. rience.” The restaurant operates from 11 a.m. 26 at 10 p.m. The two dishes featured The food truck was originally to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday on the show include a longtime favor- launched after Barnes and Williams and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday ite that will return to the restaurant’s made it to the final rounds of audi- through Saturday. York Times Syndication Sales Corporation permanent menu beginning on The Jan. New tions for Food Network’s “TheN.Y. Great10018On the web: www.whatthefriesclt. 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, 27, so guests can get it after watching Food Truck Race.” What The Fries com For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 the episode. Forfeatured Releaseon Tuesday, 9, 2019 was CookingJuly Channel’s
Crossword ACROSS 1 “We should totally do that!” 5 Key of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7: Abbr. 9 Ain’t I a stinker? 14 Energy field, in holistic medicine 15 Made-up story 16 Rub the wrong way 17 Metal that rusts 18 Coup d’___ 19 What a tabloid may be sued for 20 Need for targeted advertising 23 Medium for modern matchmaking 24 Ghost in a haunted house, e.g. 25 ’60s conflict site 28 “That sounds painful” 30 Ozs. and lbs.
31 Danson of “The Good Place” 34 Birdlike 36 A very long time 38 Neighbor of Pennsylvania 39 Netflix or YouTube 42 Online option that turns into “show” when clicked 43 Absence of complication 44 Profess 45 Sun or moon 46 UPS competitor 47 The longer of the two Morse symbols 49 “Hey” alternatives 50 Restaurateur Lagasse 53 Part of a headset 55 It settles a case 61 Classic hit 62 Catcher of counterfeiters, in old lingo
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE L I M I T A R I D M C A T
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63 Retort to “Are not!” 64 Investigator 65 [Same source as before] 66 Like drone bees 67 Pizza size 68 Disadvantages found in this puzzle’s three longest Across answers … 69 … and advantages found in them DOWN 1 Concerning the nonordained 2 $ : dollar :: € : ___ 3 Disney sci-fi classic 4 Eldest Stark daughter on “Game of Thrones” 5 “Resume normal speed,” in a score 6 Each animal in Noah’s Ark had one 7 First thing in the morning? 8 Like 747s 9 Beauty parlors 10 Butter spreader 11 “Occasion” celebrated 364 times a year in Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass” 12 “The First ___” (carol) 13 “South Park” boy 21 Leading by a single point
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22 ___ Rizzo, hustler 37 How a in “Midnight smartphone Cowboy” knows where it is, for short 25 Cheesy snack 38 De-squeak 26 French “to have” 40 So-called “architect of 27 Tough puzzle India” 29 Accepting destiny 41 TV programming filter 32 Mi-mi-re-re-do, in a children’s 46 Option with a song trash can icon 33 College 48 Making ___ accommodations 51 Host’s task, 35 Got full, say informally
52 Something to bend over backward for 54 Athlete’s leg problem 55 West Virginia resource 56 Gymnast Korbut 57 Bigheaded 58 Actor Sharif 59 Scandinavian capital founded in the mid-11th century 60 Enemies
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.
Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties inspected these restaurants from Jan. 7 to 13: Lowest Score • Three Amigos 2, 7741 Colony Road – 90 Violations include: Restaurant didn’t have vomit/diarrhea event plan; employee rinsed off hands in three-compartment sink after returning from outside; employee handled limes with bare hands; deep pans of refried beans and chicken weren’t cooled fast enough; and green sauce, carnitas, black beans and ground beef weren’t held hot enough. All Scores Charlotte (28209) • Harris Teeter (meat/seafood), 4101 Park Road – 99.5 • Jersey Mikes, 3609 South Blvd. – 98.5 • The Waterman Oyster Bar, 2729 South Blvd. – 97 Charlotte (28210) • Bojangles, 231 E. Woodlawn Road – 96 • Greco Fresh Grill, 4724 Sharon Road – 95.5 Charlotte (28211) • KFC, 1101 N. Wendover Road – 95.5 • Ooowee BBQ Food Truck, 3500 Latrobe Drive – 97 • Panera Bread, 306 S. Sharon Amity Road – 96 • Phil’s Deli II, 4223 Providence Road – 95 • Yafo Kitchen, 720 Governor Morrison St. – 95.5 Charlotte (28226) • Circle K, 8925 Pineville-Matthews Road – 98 • Food Lion (deli), 7400 Candlewyck Lane – 100 • Food Lion (market), 7400 Candlewyck Lane – 97 • Food Lion (produce), 7400 Candlewyck Lane – 99.5 • Thai House, 8706 Pineville-Matthews Road – 99.5 • Three Amigos 2, 7741 Colony Road – 90 Charlotte (28227) • Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, 7005 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 92.5 • Food Lion (deli), 9021 Albemarle Road – 98.5 • Food Lion (market), 9021 Albemarle Road – 97,5 • Food Lion (deli), 8100 Idlewild Road – 98.5 • Los Raspaditos, 7146 E. Independence Blvd. – 97 Charlotte (28270) • Cook Out, 1815 Sardis Road N. – 92 • Popeye’s, 1729 Sardis Road N. – 98 Charlotte (28277) • Bagel Bin & Deli, 16709 Orchard Stone Run – 97 • Buona Vita, 3419 Toringdon Way – 98.5 • Chopt Creative Salad, 8022 Providence Road – 99.5 • Chuy’s, 7314 Waverly Walk Ave. – 93 • Clean Juice, 9826 Sandy Rock Place – 93.5 • Edible Arrangements, 12239 N. Community House Road – 99 • Eggs Up Grill, 6414 Rea Road – 94.5 • Greco Fresh Grille, 9820 Rea Road – 97 • Harris Teeter (Pizza Bar), 11135 Golf Links Drive – 98 • Harris Teeter (Produce), 11135 Golf Links Drive – 97 • Harris Teeter (Starbucks),11135 Golf Links Drive – 97.5 • Lifetime Athletic Life Cafe, 11220 Golf Links Drive – 99.5
• Mahana Fresh, 14815 Ballantyne Village Way – 100 • Panera Bread, 11630 Waverly Center Drive – 95.5 • Pizza Hut, 15105 John J Delaney Drive – 98.5 • Publix (deli), 11222 Providence Road W. – 100 • Ricos Acai, 440 Rea Road – 99 • Sherrill Market, 13510 Ballantyne Corporate Place – 99.5 • Starbucks Coffee, 5361 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. – 96.5 • Sugar Handmade Gourmet Donuts, 11914 Elm Lane – 99.5 • Viva Chicken, 11641 Waverly Center Drive – 94 Indian Trail • Dunkin, 6405 Old Monroe Road – 99 • Dunkin, 14055 U.S. 74 W. – 98.5 • Food Lion, 4423 Old Monroe Road – 98.5 • Food Lion (deli), 4423 Old Monroe Road – 98.5 • Food Lion (produce), 4423 Old Monroe Road – 100 • Rossinis Pizza Pasta, 13803 U.S. 74 W. – 99.5 • Sun Valley Cafe, 6751 Old Monroe Road – 100 Matthews • Cracker Barrel, 9330 E. Independence Blvd. – 95 • Jekyll & Hyde Taphouse and Grill, 316 N. Trade St. – 97 • Rack’em Pub & Billiards, 1898 Windsor Square Drive – 97 • Sam’s Club (market), 1801 Windsor Square Drive – 99.5 • Umami Sushi & Grill, 200 E. Matthews St. – 95 Mint Hill • Dunwellz Custom Kitchen And Pour House, 7110 Brighton Park Drive – 97.5 • El Valle Mint Hill, 9229 Lawyers Road – 96.5 • Jimmy Johns, 7014 Tutor St. – 96 Monroe • American Deli, 1013 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 100 • Arby’s, 2101 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 95.5 • Burger King/Monroe, 2100 Roosevelt Blvd. – 100 • East Coast Wings + Grill, 5140 Old Charlotte Hwy. – 96 • Fill Good, 4102 U.S. 74 W. – 96 • Fill Good, 1006 N. Charlotte Ave. – 95 • Firehouse Subs, 2319 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 98 • Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries, 2833 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 96.5 • Food Lion (meat market), 250 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. – 99 • Food Lion (produce), 250 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. – 96.5 • Fox’s Alley, 1901 Skyway Drive – 98.5 • KFC, 2021 Roosevelt Blvd. – 96.5 • McAlister’s Deli, 2803 W. U.S. 74 – 99.5 • Panaderia El Quetzal, 1900 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 97 • Pilot Travel Center, 2700 Chamber Drive – 98 • Publix (deli), 5132 Old Charlotte Hwy. – 98 • Publix (meat market), 5132 Old Charlotte Hwy. – 100 • Publix (seafood), 5132 Old Charlotte Hwy. – 100 • Roughedge Trading Co, 5310 Lancaster Hwy. – 100 • Shoku Sushi & Bar, 5140 Old Charlotte Hwy. – 96 • Walmart (deli), 2406 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 97.5 Wingate • Food Lion, 221 U.S. 74 E. – 99.5 • Food Lion (deli), 221 U.S. 74 E. – 96.5 • Food Lion (produce), 221 U.S. 74 E. – 96.5
The Weekly • Jan. 21, 2022 • Page 5B
Wanting to run a classified ad? CALL 704-849-2261 Monday - Thursday. We accept credit cards. HELP WANTED SOFTWARE ENGINEER II, F/T, at Truist (Multiple Openings) (Charlotte, NC) Deliver technically complex solutions. Perform system integration support for all project work. Consult & partner w/ the business product owners to understand the end goal & offer solutions & recommendations during the dsgn. Must have Bach’s deg in Comp Sci, Comp Engg, or related tech’l field. Must have 4 yrs of exp in s/ware engg or IT Consulting positions performing/utilizing the following: applying in-depth knowl in info systems & ability to identify, apply, & implmt IT best practices; understanding of key business processes & competitive strategies related to the IT function; planning & managing projects & solving complex problems by applying best practices; providing direction & mentor less exp’d teammates; & utilizing exp w/: SOAP UI; GIT; Maven; JavaScript, Angular; HTML; & Java. Email resume w/ cvr ltr to: Paige.Whitesell@Truist.com (Ref. Job No. R0051376) IT MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS ANALYST sought by Equitable Financial Life Insurance Co for Charlotte, NC location. Perform complex sys anlys & identify busns rqmts & issues to create, enhance & implmnt softwr sltns. Rqmts: Bachelor’s deg or for equiv in Comp Sci, Softwr Engnrg, Elec Engnrg or rltd fld & 12 yrs of progr, post-Bacc exp as Softwr Dvlpr or rltd pos. Full term of exp must incl: 8 yrs of exp in COBOL, JCL, & DB2 or VSAM. Must have at least 3 yrs of exp in softwr dvlpmt for insurance & annuity products; wmA/ Vantage-one, DSS, design dvlpmt & ENDEVOR, IBM Utilities, SPUFI, TSO/ISPF, File Aid, File manager, SAR, Zeke Debugger & Easytriev. FMLI cert rqrd. 40 hrs/ wk. Direct applicnts only. Send resume to Equitable Financial Life Insurance Co, Attn: Mark Berkowsky, 1290 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY, 10104. Ref:RS1658. EOE M/F/D/V. ALLY BANK SEEKS A SENIOR DEVELOPER SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT in Charlotte, North Carolina. Architect and build to enhance an ever-expanding data platform supporting business process needs for internal and external integration via APIs, data models, self-serve reporting solutions, and interactive querying. Requires: Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field, plus two (2) years of experience in the role or similar role. Must have experience using Azure Data Lake, SQL, and Azure functions. May telecommute. Send resume with reference number J-L-504218 to Marlyn D. Mangual at recruitment@ally.com. Equal Opportunity Employer.
HELP WANTED
EDUCATION & INSTRUCTION
RESEARCH COORDINATOR The Charlotte Mecklenburg Hospital Authority d/b/a Atrium Health. Charlotte, NC. Manage protocols to ensure patients safety & clinical trial data quality. Wk Sun-Thur 5.00 -1300. Rotate nights & wkends on-call. Reqs Bach in Bio/Biochem/rel/equiv. Reqs 1yr research/clinical/ proj coord or mngmnt exp /relevant degree program coursework, research, proj/ intern incl: wk w/ research protocols; conduct basic lab skills incl blood sample process & Phlebotomy; utilize med term; interact w/ med patients incl perform informed consent; input research data entry in elec data capture systems; adhere to GCP guideline. All hires submit to drug & bg chk. Send resume to Melissa.N.Hall@ atriumhealth.org & ref #108456.
FALL REGISTRATION Sharon Baptist Church Weekday School, www.mysharon.org, 6411 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210 is now registering for their Fall 2021 Preschool Program. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY: Sharon Baptist Church Weekday School admits students regardless of race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to the students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administrations of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other school-administered programs.
TO RUN A CLASSIFIED AD, CONTACT ASPEN EARLY:
704.849.2261 aspen@cmgweekly.com MONDAY-THURSDAY (We accept credit cards.)