Indian Trail Weekly Jan. 31, 2020

Page 1

Inside: 93 townhomes proposed for Chestnut Parkway • Page 3A

Indian Trail Spelling champion Vega wins again, 1B

New digs Hospital due in 2022, 1B

BY THE UNION COUNTY WEEKLY

Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 • Vol. 1 • No. 4

ABOUT US P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261 justin@cmgweekly.com unioncountyweekly.com

PTA veteran runs for school board by Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com

Sarah May has invested herself in helping Union County Public Schools since 2007. Now, she wants to go deeper and serve as an at-large member on the school board. “I want to be involved,” May said. “It’s a successful school system. I feel like I can contribute to that success because I really have a passion for children and having their education be top-notch.” Though May’s professional background is not in education,

she has been involved with several schools in the county since her family moved to Wesley Chapel 13 years ago. May served as the committee chair for the parent-teacher association at her daughter’s elementary, middle and high schools. She then started getting involved with other schools throughout the county, volunteering weekly at Sun Valley High and Walter Bickett Elementary. She currently volunteers at East Elementary and is helping the school get its PTO program on its feet. Seven years ago, she began at-

tending all school board meetings to get informed on the issues facing UCPS. “That’s just my heart,” May said. “That’s what I really like to do and put my time into wherever it’s needed. I just jump in and get involved.” May does not see many major

see SCHOOL, Page 6A

Sarah May has volunteered her time to enhance the educational environment at schools such as East Elementary, Sun Valley High and Walter Bickett Elementary. Photo courtesy of Sarah May

Celebrating milestones

Justin Vick Managing Editor

UCPS is tracking housing projects

Sun Valley is starting to pick up steam

S

realm of possibility. Mason said the Spartans got on track after a 52-35 loss to Cuthbertson on Dec. 10. “What kind of turned us around was when we played Cuthbertson the first time,” Mason said. “They handled us pretty good and it was a big punch in the nose, but ever since then it’s kind of woken us up

chool boards generally catch a lot of flak from families during the redistricting process, but Union County Public Schools doesn't get enough credit on the amount of research that goes into these decisions. I have been particularly impressed with presentations delivered by UCPS Planning Manager Don Ogram Jr. in recent months during the facilities committee meetings, which are chaired by school board member Kathy Heintel. Ogram discussed enrollment and development data within the Sun Valley cluster during the Dec. 18 facilities meeting. He described the cluster as three major areas: Sun Valley campus, south to Airport Road and north to Indian Trail. Ogram identified 1,532 housing units that have yet to be built from five active developments and seven planned projects in the Indian Trail area as of August 2019. He then showed 1,459 units waiting to be built from two active developments and three planned projects in the Sun Valley portion of the cluster as of August 2019. “In this cluster, you’ll notice that we have a heavy dose of apartments and townhomes,” Ogram told the facilities committee. “This is a change from what we’ve seen in Union County over the past decades. Most of these are in plan-

see SPARTANS, Page 5A

see VICK, Page 5A

TOP: Seniors Justin Morton (0) and Michael Grovanz congratulate each other as their win over Cuthbertson last week becomes more obvious. All eight of the team’s top scorers are seniors, a trend that’s helping the Spartans play well. ABOVE: Justin Morton (0) defends the inbounds pass in Sun Valley’s tight win over Cuthbertson last week. Defense and senior leadership has helped spur the Spartans late run. Andrew Stark/ITW photo by Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com

INDIAN TRAIL – The Sun Valley boys basketball team no longer resembles the club that began the season with a 4-5 start. Spartans coach Keith Mason has led the team to eight wins in their past nine games, including a 6545 win over Parkwood on Jan. 24 that netted Mason his 200th ca-

INDEX Classifieds..............................................................5B Regional..................................................................... 1B Loud&Live.............................................................4B News Briefs......................................................... 2A Dining Scores..................................................3B Puzzles.........................................................................4B Readers Respond.................................. 4A In the Know......................................................... 2A Fine Print.................................................................. 4A Athlete of the Week..........................3B

I don't get transfer guys. I get guys who are homegrown here. It goes to show that they buy in and they stay here."

reer coaching victory. That surge has put the Spartans right back in the thick of the Southern Carolinas race, which has them alone in third place with a 6-3 league record and 13-7 over-

– Coach Keith Mason all mark. They are currently looking up at Weddington (14-5, 9-0) and Charlotte Catholic (14-3, 8-1), but with both teams still on the schedule, nothing is out of the

School district names Teacher of the Year finalists

MONROE – Superintendent Andrew Houlihan, cabinet staff and school board members revealed 10 finalists for Union County Public Schools Teacher of the Year on Jan. 27 by visiting the nominees at their schools. UCPS recognizes a teacher who is not only dedicated and capable of inspiring students of all backgrounds and abilities to learn, but

also establishes an environment conducive to academic excellence. The district will reveal the winner at an April 28 banquet. The following finalists came from a pool of 53 school-wide winners: • Lindsey Weycker – The English teacher at Cuthbertson High is teaching students to value the written and spoken word. Her classroom culture is centered around helping

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develop skills to think, read, listen and speak critically. • Dareion Malone – The choral music teacher at Marvin Ridge High helps students sharpen their leadership skills through a structure designed to include student voice in their learning experience and music curriculum. • Coleen Owens – The eighthgrade language arts teacher at the

Health Sciences Academy at Monroe Middle works to create an environment for students that promotes thinking and encourages them to make choices. • Tiffany Medford – The studio arts teacher at Piedmont High helps students build networking opportunities, share their work and learn see TOY, Page 5A

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Page 2A • Indian Trail Weekly • Jan. 31, 2020

NEWS BRIEFS

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

CONTACT US PRESIDENT Jonathan McElvy

The two-foot-long Mega Dog is one of Bowlero Matthews' top attractions on the menu. The venue is at 11210 Brigman Road. Kayla Berenson/ITW photo

MOST POPULAR STORIES • Sandy Hook parent runs for UCPS school board • Vick: Indian Trail needs a reboot • Coffee-roasting operation continues to grow • 2019 Small Business Person of the Year Awards • Deese to lead Forest Hills football team

TWEETS OF THE WEEK • “Cavs are participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring this week collecting donations and canned food items for the Community Shelter of Monroe during 4th block classes. Donations will also be accepted Friday morning in the car rider line.” – Cuthbertson High (@CHSCavaliers) • “In honor of @kobebryant we are playing the rest of this season with a Mamba Mentality!! Work hard and expect greatness!! #MambaMentality #RIPMamba” – Garrett Malone (@PRPiratehoops) • “Proud to continue my passion for working with and supporting beginning teachers! This student teacher is rocking a math lesson about ordering fractions! #proudteacher #legacy #bettertogether” – Ashley Gantt (@MrsGanttSVES)

UPCOMING SPECIAL EDITIONS • Feb. 14: Summer Camps • Feb. 21: Thrive Over 55 • Feb. 28: Arts & Entertainment

CORRECTIONS • A story in the Jan. 24 edition incorrectly described Sugar Creek Coffee Roasters as a home-brewing operation. It's actually a coffee-roasting company. Also, Chris Berger is the sole owner of the company.

PUBLISHER Adrian Garson adrian@cmgweekly.com BUSINESS MANAGER Rebecca Jensen rjensen@cmgweekly.com MANAGING EDITOR Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com NEWS EDITOR Karie Simmons karie@cmgweekly.com SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com CONTENT PRODUCER Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com ART DIRECTOR Kylie Sark art@cmgweekly.com ADVERTISING Charlotte Conway Kate Kutzleb Julie Foras adsales@cmgweekly.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR justin@cmgweekly.com PRESS RELEASES justin@cmgweekly.com

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Ron Mahle, assistant director of Monroe-Union County Economic Development, presents a rebate check for $20,000 to Chief Financial Officer Lynn Kroeger and other Union Academy staff. Photo courtesy of Union Academy

Union Academy receives energy rebate MONROE – Union Academy received a lighting rebate check for $20,000 from the City of Monroe Energy Services. The rebate check is a result of successful energy saving initiatives. The school installed LED lighting in the newly constructed buildings and removed fluorescent light bulbs in its older buildings, resulting in cost saving and energy savings. “This was a team effort,” Kroeger said. “I am extremely proud that we have taken these important steps to conserve energy and lessen our impact on the environment and save money for our school. This rebate check is evidence that we are doing our part, and it’s literally paying off.”

Town adds senior planner INDIAN TRAIL – Matt Ward has joined Indian Trail’s town staff as senior planner. Ward has a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. He previously studied geography with a concentration in urban planning and environmental studies from UNC Greensboro. Before taking on this role, Ward worked for the City of Concord, County of Henrico and most recently, the Town of Harrisburg. “I appreciate the opportunity and I look forward to working with everyone and getting to know each and every one of you,” Ward said at the Jan. 7 town council meeting.

Poplin Elementary ready to explain kindergarten INDIAN TRAIL – Poplin Elementary School has released kindergarten open house and tour information for the 2020-21 school year. Information packets will be available in the front office beginning Feb. 3. Kindergarten open houses take place Feb. 4 (3:30 to 4 p.m.), Feb. 13 (5 to 5:30 p.m.) and Feb. 24 (6 to 6:30 p.m.) in the media center. Tours span 30 minutes after each open house. Kindergarten tours also will be held every Wednesday in February from 8 to 9 a.m. Visit www.ucps.k12.nc.us/poplin to register.

Baucom steps down as coach INDIAN TRAIL – Sun Valley football coach Tad Baucom announced last week that he is stepping down after six seasons leading the Spartans “This decision was made with a heavy heart,” read a statement from the school, “but at this time he needs to support his family through personal issues which will require more of his time outside of his regular teaching duties.” Baucom had a down season this year as Sun Valley went 2-9, but he posted a 43-33 record in six seasons with the Spartans. His best teams were the 2017 and 2018 squads that went a combined 21-7 with star Sam Howell at quarterback. “My coach forever❤️” Howell tweeted in response to the news. “Thank you for everything coach love you.” Baucom has 38 years of coaching experience, including 31 in Union County Public Schools. He’s also served as head coach at Central Academy, Monroe and Topsail and owns a 135-118 overall coaching record.

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INDIAN TRAIL – The Union County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a man accused of jumping over the counter at the QT, filling a trash bag with cigarette cartons and packs and fleeing the scene Jan. 20. Deputies found the vehicle, a black Nissan Xterra, and initiated a traffic stop near Stallings. The driver left the stop and continued west on U.S. 74 toward I-485. The chase ended behind a Harris Teeter near the Idlewild exit of I-485. The driver fled on foot, jumped over a fence and remains at large. Deputies recovered more than 11 cartons of cigarettes, drug paraphernalia and a small quantity of cocaine. One of the passengers, 28-year-old Charlotte resident Juan Daniel Lewis, faces drug charges in connection with the cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies seize meth MONROE – The Union County Sheriff’s Office seized more than 90 grams of methamphetamine on Jan. 23. Deputies arrested David Benton Baggett, 34, of Pageland, on charges of trafficking in methamphetamine.

Chimney drop-off boxes overflow during the employee holiday party with food items for the South Piedmont Food Pantry. Photo courtesy of SPCC

South Piedmont Community College to open food pantry MONROE – Students and staff at South Piedmont Community College can use a food pantry on each campus beginning the last week in January. The idea for a food pantry started with Amanda Winfrey, a library circulation assistant at SPCC. Being surrounded by books, her inspiration came from “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” A team of people across campus helped Winfrey bring her idea to reality. The SPCC Foundation donated the first $1,000 and the Student Government Association followed with an additional $500. An employee food drive ended during the holiday party where many employees opted to give food and supplies to the pantry rather than gifts to each other.

Master Gardener explains home landscaping MONROE – Suzanne Wilkerson will debunk the secrets of successful home landscaping at the next Union County Master Gardener education program. Wilkerson will discuss successful approaches for targeted landscape areas, how to create a plan, ways to tackle sourcing and installation, and how to preserve your investment through maintenance. The event starts at 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Union County Agricultural Center, 3230 Presson Road. RSVP by calling 704-283-3801.

LendEDU ranks Wingate tops in state for financial aid WINGATE – Wingate University is ranked No. 1 in North Carolina and No. 49 nationally in terms of providing financial aid to students, according to LendEDU. The college-loan site considered needbased, non-need-based and international financial aid to create composite scores using 2017-18 data. Donors such as Charlotte lawyer Porter Byrum have helped students receive a Wingate education. Byrum gave nearly $21 million to the Wingate in 2011 and $36.5 million upon his death in 2017. Most of that money provided aid to those in need.

Souper Bowl benefits community shelter MONROE – The Community Shelter of Union County is gearing up for the Super Bowl by participating in the national Souper Bowl of Caring. Last year’s campaign raised more than $46,787 for the shelter, with Union County Public Schools’ combined donations through individual school campaigns totaling $28,228. “Each year, the schools work hard to raise funds to fight hunger and homelessness in Union County,” CEO Kathy Bragg said. “We are so proud of the students and administration for participating in this fight that impacts every corner of our county.” Weddington High School was the top fundraising school for the fifth consecutive year. The school raised more than $3,400, resulting in a combined $17,157 contribution since 2015. Souper Bowl is also an annual event for many Union County churches. Faith-based contributions totaled more than $13,000 last year, and other contributions were more than $5,200. Souper Bowl runs through March 15. Any organization, school, business or family can participate. To learn how you can participate, contact Jeff Rogers at 704-261-3083 or Jeff. Rogers@UnionShelter.org. see BRIEFS, Page 5A


Indian Trail Weekly • Jan. 31, 2020 • Page 3A

Common Heart offers free income tax service INDIAN TRAIL– Volunteers with Common Heart will again offer its free income tax service to residents. This will be the ninth year Common Heart has offered free tax services, which are completed by trained and certified volunteers as part of the national Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Common Heart volunteers filed 475 income tax returns last year. Due to the closing of the Ellen Fitzgerald Senior Center AARP Free Tax Preparation site in Monroe, Common Heart is expanding its hours to meet the need. “We have added more days and hours, because we expect over 600 state and federal returns to be pre-

pared at the site,” Site Supervisor Bruce Gorrel said. Executive Director Keith Adams said the program has become a volunteer favorite and gives a needed boost to many. “Our free tax service helps take the stress out of tax time and allows our hard-working neighbors to use the money they save on tax prepa-

ration fees for other needs, like food, rent or medical bills or, in the case of one of our friends, a down payment on a home,” Adams said. “We serve people from all walks of life – college students, teachers, hairstylists, retail staff, local government employees and retirees.” Individuals and families with an annual household income of

Chestnut Parkway may get more units by Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com

INDIAN TRAIL – As downtown Indian Trail prepares for the new Hub apartment complex, an additional townhome development on Chestnut Parkway could be added to the mix. After initially pitching the development to Indian Trail Town Council at the developers workshop Dec. 18, Eagle Engineering returned to town hall Jan. 21 to present the 93-unit development to the planning board and request to rezone 9.11 acres to mixed-use development. The proposed site of the townhomes is located next to the new Mecklenburg Swim Association and the site of The Hub, a 350-unit apartment complex. It is also adjacent to Chestnut Square Park. The site is zoned as single-family residential, with one portion of it zoned as Union County residential. This portion would need to be annexed into Indian Trail. Additionally, the planning board was asked to recommend to approve or deny amending the comprehensive plan from parks and the old Chestnut Parkway alignment to mixed use. The development would include 93, three-story townhomes with twocar garages, along with a two-story commercial building. The townhomes would be between 2,100 and 2,300 square feet and would be priced in the $300,000 range. Senior Planner Tim Jones said adequate parking will be provided with 372 parking spaces, which includes room for four cars in each driveway. However, Jones

said the sheriff’s office expressed concerns about having enough parking in the development. The commercial development would offer office and restaurant space and have 65 parking spaces available. “Even though the proposed plan for the mixed use is not consistent with our downtown plan in the town’s comprehensive plan, staff supports this request because it is consistent with the business commercial development occurring in this area of downtown,” Jones said. Jones said staff believed the request was reasonable and meets goals and objectives of the town’s comprehensive plan. They also believe it will blend with the approved conditional zoning for the Hub apartment complex. Planning board chairman Dennis Gay asked about the parking and said he had concerns as well. Matthew Kirchner, of Eagle Engineering, assured Gay the garages can hold two cars and each driveway has room for four cars, providing enough parking on site. Kirchner also said the required number of parking spaces is 233, but the developer has provided 139 additional spaces on top of that. Cheryl Mimy, who serves on the planning board and works at Sun Valley High School, questioned the impact the development would have on schools. Kirchner said a study came back that showed the development would yield four students per unit. Mimy was concerned that schools will be overcrowded as a result. Mimy also questioned the location

from a business perspective, wondering if the business in the commercial building would be slow in that area. “You’ve also got 350 apartments that are going to have hungry people in it looking for a place to go and shop and eat,” Kirchner responded. “I don’t know the commercial piece by itself is going to have any issues getting people into it with the amount of services you guys have provided in the area.” Kirchner said the quality of the townhomes, along with the fact that the apartments are for rent and the townhomes are for sale, will differentiate the project from the Hub. “You won’t see many three-story townhomes starting at a $300,000 range in the area,” Kirchner said. “So, these are high-end townhomes that they’re providing in the area to meet that need and match the rest of the quality that the town has approved to come in.” The townhomes are set to be next to a proposed stop on the LYNX Silver Line, which may run from Belmont to Indian Trail. One planning board member asked what will go on the sidewalk if the light rail is not there. Kirchner said there will be open landscaping on the site of where the light rail is proposed. If it doesn't happen, it will remain as an open space. The planning board voted 3-2 to recommend denial. The town council is set to discuss the project at its Feb. 11 meeting, but Planning Director Brandi Deese said notifications will be sent out if anything changes.

$56,000 or less are eligible for the free assistance. To make an appointment, call 704-218-9060 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays. Appointments are available Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.; Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 to 8 p.m.; Thursdays 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Moser Group pitches regional business district by Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com

INDIAN TRAIL – More businesses could be coming to Indian Trail in a possible new regional business district area. At the Indian Trail Planning Board meeting Jan. 21, The Moser Group requested to rezone 5.6 acres at U.S. 74 and Plyler Road to a regional business district. The area is zoned for single-family, low-density residential. The future land use map designates the parcel as “traditional neighborhood development,” so if approved, it would need to be changed to “mixed use.” Planning Director Brandi Deese said the applicant does not have plans for the property at this time, but plans to market the property in the future and the applicant feels the location’s proximity to U.S. 74 would make them unable to do so. “With its proximity to 74, you’re not going to get low-density residential right off of 74,” Deese said. Tom Crouch, a project manager for The Moser Group, said rezoning the property would make it

more desirable to buyers. They also want to rezone it to a business district because of the existing and future residential developments. “With so many townhomes and apartments already in the pipeline for Indian Trail, we would like to rezone to regional business in order to be more consistent with surrounding parcels and be viewed more favorably by potential buyers and developers,” Crouch said. Planning board member Cheryl Mimy asked if adding more businesses would be disruptive to the surrounding areas. Crouch said there is a Keller Williams office building and an auto garage across the street, so it would not be disruptive. “We’ve been discussing this property internally for some time now with the hopes of being sensitive to the property surrounding it and it being a visual gateway into Indian Trail,” he said. The board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning and the amendments to the future land use map. The rezoning request is set to be presented to the town council at its Feb. 11 meeting.

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Page 4A • Indian Trail Weekly • Jan. 31, 2020

READERS RESPOND

The Fine Print

Custody case getting tough? Consider a parent coordinator Dear Attorney, I'm involved in a difficult child custody case with the other parent. We cannot seem to agree on much of anything from bedtimes for our children, how to handle parent teacher conferences, to holiday schedule. My lawyer has suggested I consider employing a parent coordinator to help us resolve these issues. What I cannot understand is how a parenting coordinator is different than a lawyer and why I would incur the costs of one? – Perturbed Parent Dear Perturbed, If your custody case is “difficult,” that's a sign that a parenting coordinator (PC) may be a good option to consider. Under North Carolina's parenting coordinator statute, a judge can appoint a PC in high-conflict cases to work with the parents on making day-to-day decisions. The PC is a neutral third party brought into a custody matter to reduce tension by helping parents effectively communicate, solve problems and co-parent. Some examples of high-conflict cases are those that involve: • Excessive litigation (constantly going back and forth to court); • Anger and distrust between parents that affects decisions they make regarding their child(ren); • A history of abuse of any kind rendering communication between parents a bad idea; • Difficulty communicating about daily decisions that must be made by parents in order to raise their child(ren). PCs exist, in part, due to the severe backlog that family law courts are experiencing in child custody cases. We often think of contentious court proceedings as involving major issues, such as where to send a child to school or whether one parent can move to another state with the child. These conflicts do occur, but more commonly it is something small that sets off a parent and lands them both in front of the judge. This costs time, money and delays other parties that need to have their cases heard. The PC cannot modify a child custody order or make fundamental custody decisions; that's the role of the judge in your case. The PC can be appointed at the request of a party or with the parents' consent. One major benefit of having a PC is his or her neutrality in making a decision about daily matters like what is a reasonable bedtime for your child or holiday visitation schedule. This is done after having received input from you and your former spouse. Thus, instead of waiting months to get in front of a judge, leaving your child in limbo, and increasing tension between the parents, the PC can quickly resolve the issue and help both parents forward. If the judge appoints a PC, he or she will also set forth the specific issues that the PC can assist with and bring to decision. If the PC makes a decision in your matter, that decision will be enforceable as if it were an order of the court. For that reason, you should consult your attorney for guidance

Reactions to recently published stories in Indian Trail Weekly INSIDE: Readers react to town hall drama • Page 2A

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Arts Entertainment BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 • Vol. 1 • No. 3

ABOUT US P.O. BOX 1104 Matthews, NC 28106 (704) 849-2261 justin@cmgweekly.com unioncountyweekly.com

Sandy Hook parent prioritizes social-emotional learning, safety in run for school board by Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com

Claudia Sandoval’s life was forever changed when her children became survivors of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. She chose to end her 12-year Sandoval veterinarian career to become an advocate for gun violence prevention. She and her family now live in Union County, where her three children attend Union County Public Schools. Her investment in the community and passion

WHAT'S INSIDE:

for school-related issues prompted her to run for the board of education at-large seat. “I think Union County kids deserve a bright future, so I’m running for the board of education at-large to ensure that every child has access to public education that promotes both academic excellence and social-emotional competency,” Sandoval said. Along with promoting social-emotional learning, advocating for safety in schools will be a top priority for Sandoval if she is elected. For the last year and a half, Sandoval has advocated to the board as a member of the safety committee. She advises on evidence-based school safety programs.

Sandoval also recently started working for Sandy Hook Promise, which was founded by parents who lost their loved ones in the 2012 shooting. She gets to visit schools in North Carolina and educate students on how to speak up anonymously, as well as find warning signs regarding gun violence. “I’m really proud in this role of the partnership that the state of North Carolina has developed with the Sandy Hook Promise in using their Say Something anonymous reporting system,” Sandoval said. “I get to go into schools and do see SANDOVAL, Page 3A

Indian Trail needs a

REBOOT

Couple wins We recognize small business winners, 5A

Common Heart’s Hunger Walk fundraiser supports programs that include food banks, a thrift shop and various economic empowerment workshops. Photo courtesy of Mnemosyne Studio

Poverty simulation a chance to understand

Craft coffee Area roasters get a taste of growth, 1B

They're chilling Antarctic dinosaurs are coming, 6B

Justin Vick

Mobility Alfaro helps seniors stay on the road, 6A

him three years later. Joe Fivas took over in 2010 and left on his own accord in 2015 right after the town election. Mayor Pro Tem David Cohn told me at the time that Fivas left because he "saw the handwriting on the wall." Scott Kaufhold was promoted in 2016 and fired the next year. Based on this knowledge, it seems to me like the town manager should elevate consensus-building as the top priority. It should start with the town council, continue with the town staff and spread throughout the community. The manager needs clear objectives

INDIAN TRAIL – Brian Cross sums up his experience in a poverty simulation in one word – stressful. Cross, who serves as a board member for Community Heart, took on the role of a 9-year-old girl in a struggling family. “Over all my life experiences I've never gone through anything like that,” he said. “There's a lot of weight that was put on that 9-year-old girl that she was really having to act as an adult to help her family navigate around and not enjoying her youth. This simulation allows you to sit in their shoes and see what they're going through and what they're stressed about.” Poverty is often portrayed as a standalone issue, but this simulation allows individuals to walk a month in the shoes of someone who is facing poverty and realize

see REBOOT, Page 3A

see POVERTY, Page 3A

Top: A view outside of town hall. Fortunately, there have been no mobs with pitchforks. Above: Who will sit in the town manager seat at the end of the town's investigation into Manager Patrick Sadek? Kayla Berenson/ITW photos

Managing Editor

I

don't know what is happening or what will happen to Indian Trail Town Manager Patrick Sadek. Since we learned the town council voted to place him on administrative leave as a third-party investigator snoops around, we've reached out to people for information and requested some records. So far, nothing.

Regardless of the outcome of this investigation, I don't think Indian Trail can go back to business as usual. In other words, regardless of whether Sadek is retained, fired or resigns as town manager, Indian Trail government needs to regain the trust of its citizens. I'm not jumping to conclusions here. I'm not accusing Sadek or the current town council of making any mistakes, but the town doesn't have a good track record when it comes to the relationship between manager and council. The council hired Ed Humphries as the first full-time manager in town history in 2006 only to fire

Deese to lead Forest Hills football team Expansion Assisted stretching is catching on, 3A

INDEX Dining Scores ................................................ 6B Classifieds.............................................................5B Readers Respond ................................. 2A Calendar...................................................................3B Loud&Live ............................................................3B Sports............................................................................. 4A Arts & Entertainment ...................... 1B Puzzles ........................................................................3B

by Andrew Stark andrew@cmgweekly.com

Forest Hills announced the hiring of Jammie Deese as its new head football coach on Jan. 14. Deese was serving as the offensive coordinator at the University of West Florida, an upstart program that won the Division II National Championship this past season. He left the program after his wife, Brandi, took a job as Indian Trail’s director of planning last June, so he was out of football last season. Deese joined the West Florida staff in 2014 as the first coordinator hire for the new program. In the team’s inaugural season in 2016, the Argonauts averaged more than 400 yards per game

and over 300 yards passing. During the team's run to the Division II national runner-up in 2017, Deese's offense averaged 343 yards. After moving to Indian Trail with his wife and to help his kids transition to their new school district, Deese said he’s ready to get back into the game. “I prayed about it, and it’s faith and family for me, so it was the right decision to come back to Indian Trail,” he said. “I was an assistant at

see DEESE, Page 4A

Forest Hills football coach Jammie Deese has experience on the offensive side of the football and building programs at the collegiate level. Photo courtesy of Forest Hills High School

COMMIT TO BE FIT

About Jennifer L. Fleet Jennifer L. Fleet, Esq. practices domestic law and appellate law at Weaver | Budd, Attorneys at Law. She is also a parent coordinator. To schedule a consultation with her, please call (704) 841-0760.

on the PC's authority in your case. A PC's fee will depend largely on his or her experience and qualifications. In order to be eligible to be a PC, an individual must meet all of the following requirements: • Hold a masters or doctorate degree in psychology, law, social work, counseling, medicine or a related subject area; • Have at least five years of related professional post-degree experience; • Hold a current license in the parenting coordinator's area of practice, if applicable; • Participate in 24 hours of training in specific topics before they are licensed. Parents can generally expect to pay anywhere from $175 to $350 an hour for the services of a PC. However, this will likely be less expensive than numerous court hearings between you and the other parent. Oftentimes, the PC fee is split equally between the parents. It is important for you and your attorney to discuss the pros and cons of a PC from all angles, including costs. This is especially true if you and the other parent have a history of conflict and poor communication. In any event, talk to your attorney about the history of your relationship with the other parent so the two of you can make an informed decision on whether to employ a parenting coordinator to help reduce the conflict and the costs associated with a difficult custody case. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is general in nature and not to be taken as legal advice, nor to establish an attorney-client relationship between the reader and Jennifer Fleet or Weaver | Budd, Attorneys at Law. Submit questions for The Fine Print to: inquiries@weaverbuddlaw.com.

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Sandy Hook parent runs for UCPS school board (Jan. 24) Dr. Sandoval is an accomplished individual with a passion for the education of all children. I was very impressed with her when I had the opportunity to hear one of her excellent Sandy Hook Promise school presentations on recognizing the warning signs of school violence. She left her successful veterinary career to work as an advocate and educator to ensure the best possible education for and well-being of all children in the county. She has my support and vote. – Sylvia Walters via web If I recall correctly, I served with Claudia on the realignment (redistricting) committee a couple years ago. I recall her being extremely intelligent, asking very intuitive questions, and being genuinely interested in solving issues across the ENTIRE county, not just the western side. She has my vote. – Mary Moore via Facebook Welcome to Union County! Thanks for running for the UCPS School Board! – David via web

I am against transplants trying to change the places to which they move, irrespective of their motivations. That's like marrying a person and then trying to change them into someone else. Many of us who have lived here for generations resent this. – Chris Turner via Facebook I don't care where a person is from, or their race or gender. I do care what they believe. 6 years ago we had an ultra-liberal, completely incompetent Board of Education that needlessly redistricted thousands of kids, wasting millions of taxpayer money and time. – Sam McNeil via Facebook

Vick: Indian Trail needs a reboot (Jan. 24) The town council needs to hire a town manager that has experience managing people and is a proven leader. The last two managers that were hired had no management experience and never worked outside of engineering. This was a failure from the beginning. In order to be successful you need a leader, someone that can develop a culture and work with staff not against them. The current manager is always against the staff and does not trust anyone and is constantly belittling them and putting them down. A leader does not do this. – Anthony S. via web Patrick has had more turnover than any other town manager. Just look at all of the department heads that have left once he was hired. He micromanages everyone on staff and intimidates them to the point when they want to leave. This guy needs to be fired and the town needs a reboot. – Bill via web Indian Trail does need a reboot. But in order to move forward it has to get rid of the current rot, which is Patrick Sadek. They need to find someone who has experience in running a town and also knows how to be a good manager and Patrick is neither. But also within those walls, if there is anyone that shares Patrick’s vision or has been in agreement with his methods of running off good employees, then they should leave as well. I welcome the change that it coming. – BOBitsABoy via web Have an opinion about a story? Email justin@cmgweekly.com.

Library heading to Cuthbertson by Justin Vick justin@cmgweekly.com

MONROE – Union County will build a public library on the campus shared by Cuthbertson middle and high schools. County commissioners approved an agreement Jan. 21 with Union County Public Schools that outlined terms and conditions of using the school property, which inHeintel cludes the district having input on programming and access to 50% of study rooms and certain meeting rooms rent-free. “This was a long process of vetting, of discussions, of common understanding and purpose,” County Manager Mark Watson said. “We've hammered out all of those issues.” Watson He said that staff now has the charge of immediately moving forward with construction.

The agreement requires the county award a construction contract within three years, open the library within four years and install sidewalk connecting the building to the school property within a year of opening. Otherwise, the school district may consider reclaiming the property. This was a major sticking point for the district as explained by school board member Kathy Heintel during a Dec. 3 facilities committee. “One of the things we want to do is make sure it is always going to be used for a library,” Heintel said, noting the 16 acres would have two schools next to it. Construction will impact Cuthbertson's existing cross-country trail. The school district has already had discussions with the county about restructuring the trail. Residents approved a $10.1 million bond referendum in 2016 for the construction of a library in western Union County. The county chose the Cuthbertson campus after hearing recommendations from trustees of the Union County Public Library.

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SPARTANS

Tracking and reviewing this type of data can only put the school board in a better position to make sound positions."

(continued from page 1A)

a little bit. Sometimes that’s what it takes.” Since then, the Spartans have only dropped games to Weddington and Charlotte Catholic as they’ve won nine of 11. They got their shot at Cuthbertson again on Jan. 21 and nearly won wire-to-wire in the 61-56 win. The Spartans followed that up with a 6545 home win over Parkwood to continue their momentum. Some of the play of late is due to the fact that the Spartans start five seniors and all eight of their regular rotation players are playing their last season of high school basketball together. That’s a powerful thing that can’t be taken lightly. “It goes to show that these guys have been here since Day 1,” Mason said. “I don’t get transfer guys. I get guys who are homegrown here. It goes to show that they buy in and they stay here. That’s another reason that’s helped us is that they know this is it. They want to go out and give it the best that they have and go out and play. It’s that and them believing and seeing some things. It’s paying off for us now.” The Spartans are led in scoring by smooth guard Justin Morton (14.2 points), but get contributions nightly from senior starters Raheem Howard (12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds), Michael Grovanz (10.2 points, 4.1 rebounds), Teshaun Walker (10.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists) and Malachi Clyburn (3.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) who have started every game together this season. Top reserves Joe Flucus and Isaiah Threatt are both key contributors as well. While the wealth is very evenly distributed among the starters, that makes it the Spartans tougher to guard. And, with a commitment to playing good defense and sharing the ball, the Spartans are playing good basketball at the right time with vital games against conference leaders Weddington (Jan. 28 after Indian Trail Weekly’s press deadline) and Charlotte Catholic (Feb. 4) looming. “Since the first Cuthbertson game we’ve been playing really well except for the Catholic game. Catholic has our number, but we have to fix that,” Mason said. “Right now, we’re taking it one game at a time and we’re focused on whoever we’re playing next. We have to keep it going.” With a shot at the conference title in sight and a team seemingly peaking at the right

BRIEFS (continued from page 2A)

Voter deadline approaches MONROE – The voter registration deadline for the March 3 Primary Election is Feb. 7. Voter registration applications received by the Union County Board of Elections office or postmarked by the deadline are accepted as valid applications for the upcoming election. To register to vote in North Carolina, prospective voters must be 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, live in the county of registration (at least 30 days prior to the date of the election) and not be serving a sentence for a felony conviction, including probation or parole. Voters who are not registered in the county by the deadline may register and vote during one-stop voting only. Call the Union County Board of Elections at 704-283-3809 or email union.boe@Union countync.gov for details.

Help plan heritage festival MONROE – The Union County Extension Master Gardeners is seeking volunteers to serve on the planning committee of the 2020 Union County Heritage Festival on Sept. 19. Committee members work on various components of the event including entertainment, exhibitors, marketing and the 5K. Planning meetings are held monthly from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Union County Agricultural Center, 3230 Presson Road. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 12. Individuals interested in participating are welcome to attend the meetings. Email Tina Sagartz at cgsagartz@carolina. rr.com for details.

NCDOT recognizes club WEDDINGTON – The North Carolina Department of Transportation recognized the Weddington Optimist Club for its 30-year participation in the state-sponsored Adopt-AHighway program. The club maintains a two-mile section of Weddington Road in front of Optimist Park. The award in part states “In recognition of your service to protect the environment and enhance the quality of life for all North Carolinians, we are pleased to award you this distinguished STAR award and two 30-year stars for your Adopt-A-Highway signs.” Visit www.weddington-optimist.org to learn more.

Optimists judging essays WEDDINGTON – The Optimist Club of Weddington is encouraging area students to contemplate the phrase “Is Optimism the Key to Achieving the Dreams you iMagine?” as part of the Optimist International Essay Contest for the 2019-20 school year. The club will judge the local students’ essays, based on the theme of “Is Optimism the

Indian Trail Weekly • Jan. 31, 2020 • Page 5A

VICK (continued from page 1A)

Sun Valley’s Malachi Clyburn (4) and Joe Flucus contest a shot by JP Haggarty. Andrew Stark/ITW photo Southern Conference standings Weddington 9-0 14-5 Catholic 8-1 14-3 Sun Valley 6-3 13-7 Cuthbertson 4-5 7-12 Marvin Ridge 3-6 6-12 Monroe 3-6 5-9 Piedmont 2-7 4-15 Parkwood 1-8 2-14 Standings are through Jan. 27 Recent games Jan. 24: Marvin Ridge 75, Piedmont 54 Jan. 24: Sun Valley 65, Parkwood 45 Jan. 24: Catholic 55, Cuthbertson 44 Jan. 24: Weddington 83, Monroe 58 Jan. 28: Sun Valley @ Weddington* Jan. 28: Catholic @ Parkwood* Jan. 28: Piedmont @ Monroe* Jan. 28: Marvin Ridge @ Cuthbertson* *Jan. 28 games were after deadline Upcoming games Jan. 29: Monroe @ Central Jan. 31: Parkwood @ Marvin Ridge Jan. 31: Cuthbertson @ Piedmont Jan. 31: Weddington @ Catholic Feb. 4: Cuthbertson @ Monroe Feb. 4: Marvin Ridge @ Weddington Feb. 4: Catholic @ Sun Valley Feb. 4: Piedmont @ Parkwood

time, Mason said there are still some things his guys want to continue as they look to close out their high school career together. “If we want to have any chance to win this thing we have to win out,” Mason said. “There are no if ’s, and’s or but’s about it. We still have a shot at (a conference title), but we also want to make sure we get into the playoffs and we want to get far in the conference tournament. So there’s still a lot at stake and these guys don’t want it to end. They want to play as many games as possible and keep playing well for as long as we can.” Key to Achieving the Dreams you iMagine?” and determine the top winners. The top three winners will receive cash awards, and the winning essays will be sent to the district level where college scholarships are available for top winners. “Young students today have so many fresh ideas about the world and their future,” Club President Bill Deter said. “As Optimists, it is our goal to encourage them and do what we can to bring out the best in each of them. This gives them a wonderful opportunity to tap into their creativity and pursue possible scholarships at the same time.” The Optimist Club of Weddington has been participating in the essay contest for over 30 years. Students wishing to participate in the essay contest can find out more about the contest by contacting their school or the club’s event chairman at 704-989-5367.

College coaches visit schools WEDDINGTON – Nick Saban, of Alabama, Dabo Swinney of Clemson and Brian Kelly of Notre Dame visited Weddington High School on Jan. 28. The high school tweeted photos of the famed college football coaches, welcoming them to Warrior Nation. Weddington happens to be home to one of the nation’s most prized recruits in running back Will Shipley. Sun Valley also welcomed some big college football names to its halls, including UNC coach Mack Brown and Duke coach David Cutcliffe.

Common Heart to explain poverty in two-day workshop INDIAN TRAIL – Common Heart and Thrive! Union will partner to offer a two-day Bridges Out of Poverty workshop this spring. Bridges Out of Poverty provides a framework for understanding poverty, how it affects us all and what is necessary for an individual or family to rise out of poverty. “Especially in Union County, we need to realize that the challenges of higher poverty communities, such as Monroe, Wingate and Marshville, impact the lives of our more affluent communities, such as Marvin and Weddington,” Common Heart Executive Director Keith Adams said. “We are one county although we have two completely different experiences. It’s time to come together and work for the common good of our community. We can work together across sectors and economic classes to create a sustainable community where all can thrive.” The workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24 and April 7 at the Department of Human Services office, 2330 Concord Ave., Monroe. Costs are $50 for both days, $35 for day 1 only and $15 for day 2 only (participant must have completed day 1 previously). Advanced registration is required. Visit http:// Workshops.CommonHeart.org to register.

ning although we have had one open in this area in the last two years.” In total, the cluster is bracing for 2,991 housing units between the Indian Trail and Sun Valley areas. Heintel noted that apartments may come in the form of one, two or three bedrooms. The more bedrooms an apartment has, the more likely a family will reside there. “That’s the difficulty we

– Justin Vick face in planning,” he said. “A developer can change that sort of thing part way through the process.” Ogram shared current enrollment data and building utilization for schools within the cluster: • Indian Trail Elementary: 582 students, 91% utilization, four mobile classrooms. • Rocky River Elementary: 540 students, 82% utilization, 12 mobile classrooms. • Shiloh Valley Primary: 583 students, 91% utili-

TOY (continued from page 1A)

new skills. She hopes her lessons will help students uncover hidden talents. • Ashley Puscheck – The fourth-grade teacher at Prospect Elementary encourages her students to have a growth mindset, uplifts and reminds them of their leadership qualities, and encourages collaboration. • Christina Worrall – The fifth-grade teacher at Sandy Ridge Elementary encourages students to build relationships with each other. She allows students to make decisions and finds extension activities to grow students at every level. • Erika Murray – The kindergarten teacher at Sardis Elementary prioritizes emotional well-being, helps students learn

zation, zero mobile classrooms. • Shiloh Valley Elementary: 593 students, 70% utilization, two mobile classrooms. • Sun Valley Middle: 1,140 students, 97% utilization, 10 mobile classrooms. • Sun Valley High: 1,473 students, 98% utilization, four mobile classrooms. Ogram has since given a presentation on the Weddington cluster on Jan. 23. He will talk about the Marvin Ridge cluster next.

the value of hard work and creates an environment that fosters free expression, creativity and innovation. • Kimberly Castner – The fourth-grade teacher at Stallings Elementary strives to make learning interactive and engaging while encouraging students to use creativity as often as possible. • Jenna Sweet – The AIG teacher at Weddington Middle believes students thrive in an environment built upon respect and meaningful relationships. She creates an inclusive atmosphere of risk-taking, goal-setting and differentiation. • Martin Hughes – The fifth-grade teacher at Western Union Elementary uses student feedback to personalize lessons, encourages learning through a global lens and builds strong relationships with students.


Page 6A • Indian Trail Weekly • Jan. 31, 2020

CURRENT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS Candice Sturdivant

Melissa Merrell

Travis Kiker

District 1 Elected in 2016 Occupation: Assistant Director of Vocation, Internships and Career Services Family: Mother of two

District 4- Chairperson Elected in 2014 Occupation: Self-employed Family: Married to Rob; mother of two

At-large Elected in 2018 Occupation: Insurance Agent - Farm Bureau Family: Married to Rebecca; father of four

Matt Helms

Joseph Morreale

Todd Price

District 2 Elected in 2016 Occupation: Information Technology Family: Married to Neva; father of two

District 5 Elected in 2016 Occupation: Director IT Business Services at Family Dollar Stores Family: Married to Cindy; father of two

At-large Appointed in 2019 Occupation: Vice President - BB&T Family: Married to Tracey; father of two

Gary Sides

Kathy Heintel

Christina Helms

District 3 Elected in 2014 Occupation: President, Marshall Insurance Family: Married to Myra Kay; father of three

District 6 - Vice chair Elected in 2016 Occupation: Self-employed Family: Married to Bob; mother of two

At-large Re-elected in 2016 Occupation: Self-employed Family: Married to Daron; mother of one

SCHOOL (continued from page 1A)

challenges facing UCPS, but she wants to help improve what is already being worked on. She is particularly invested in teacher retention and pushing for career-technical education for students who are not on the traditional college path. “I’d love to see the CTE work with local companies in the area,” May said. “What if they could have 100% job placement when they graduate? The whole point is that we just want our kids to grow up and be successful, functioning adults, whatever path they take to get there. I just like that there’s a variety of offerings, and they’ve really been pushing this year to get the word out that there are all of these great programs.”

Additionally, she wants to continue the push for social and emotional learning. May believes this will help students grow holistically and develop strong relationships. One of her biggest goals is to increase involvement in UCPS. “I really would like to see involvement in schools, not just from families, but from community organizations and businesses and see everybody working together,” May said. “I know that there’s all these groups that would like to, so I think expanding on that would be great.” May understands that high-quality education draws many families to Union County, so she wants to keep making sure every school’s needs are met. May said she is making an effort to research and learn about the diverse needs of UCPS so she can best serve as an at-large member on

the board. “Equitable offerings across the board for the entire county would be something that I know they constantly are working on,” May said. “That’s always a challenge because it is very diverse, and so, what works at one school may not necessarily the best for another school.” Immersing herself in the school system, working with a hands-on approach and getting involved are qualities May believes separate her as a candidate for the at-large seat. “I dive right into whatever I’m trying to learn about or devote my time to, so I feel that I would just be very thorough and just put 120% into the position,” May said. “In the past, they’ve had a couple openings where they had to fill a seat and I put my name in them too because I felt like I could contribute positively. It’s a passion of mine that has evolved over the years.”

Source: www.ucps.k12.nc.us/unioncounty

I really would like to see involvement in schools, not just from families, but from community organizations and businesses and see everybody working together. I know that there’s all these groups that would like to, so I think expanding on that would be great."

Though she does not have a campaign website or social media page yet, she plans to create one in the future. In the meantime, May is trying to meet as many people as possible to discuss the issues they care about when it comes to their schools. She hopes her dedication to the position and the schools shines through as she continues to campaign. “I just have such a passion for this and feel like I could be a strong contribution to the school system,” May said.

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• Sarah May

School board race at a glance At least one new face will join the school board as Christina Helms is not running for a third term. Todd Price, who was appointed in 2019 to replace Union County Commissioner Dennis Rape, hopes to return. Challengers Claudia Sandoval and Sarah May are vying for seats.


REGIONAL Regional Section • Jan. 31, 2020 • Page 1B

Sandy Ridge student wins UCPS Spelling Bee MONROE – Breezing through 16 rounds, spelling words such as “tarpaulin” and “dactylic” with relative ease, Alexia Vega Franceschi won the 2020 Union County Public Schools Spelling Bee on Jan. 24. Alexia, a fourth-grader at Sandy Ridge Elementary, won the event for the second consecutive year by correctly spelling the word “ganglion.” “I am very excited. I wasn’t that nervous until I got to my last word,” Alexia said. “My sister helped me study the words so that I could be ready for today.” Alexia’s sister, Eva, won the UCPS Spelling Bee in 2018 and went on to compete at the National Spelling Bee later that year. Eva attends Marvin Ridge High. Each of the district’s 38 elementary and middle schools sent their champions to the

Thirty-eight spelling champions from the district's elementary and middle schools competed in the bee. Photos courtesy of Union County Public Schools

UCPS Spelling Bee. For two hours, parents, principals and family members held their breath as the spellers plowed through rounds spelling words such as transmogrify, gladiatorial, pruritus and ecclesiology. By the 11th round, Alexia began a headto-head competition with Weddington Middle student Daniel Wei, which lasted

another five rounds. No stranger to spelling bees, Daniel was UCPS's champion in 2017 and first runner-up in 2019. see SPELLING, Page 3B

Right: Alexia Vega Franceschi, of Sandy Ridge Elementary, won her second consecutive district spelling bee Jan. 24.

Give wisely to those in need – not scammers by Josh Stein

N.C. Attorney General

Atrium Health officials ceremoniously celebrate the first shovels in the dirt during the Jan. 23 groundbreaking of Atrium Health Union West.

NEW DIGS

Atrium Health breaks ground on Union West hospital

Renderings show what Atrium Health Union West will look like when the hospital opens in early 2022. The campus will include offices for medical specialties. Kayla Berenson/UCW photos

by Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com

STALLINGS – The 10-year vision of a hospital and medical facility in western Union County was brought to life Jan. 23 as Atrium Health officials broke ground on the site of the future Atrium Health Union West hospital. The hospital, located at 1500 Stallings Road, is expected to be completed by the end of 2021 and open in early 2022. Officials say the project will be completed on time and under budget. When Eugene Woods stepped into his role as president and CEO of Atrium Health, he met Donnie Baucom, who serves on the Atrium Health Board of Commissioners. Baucom gave see HOSPITAL, Page 2B

With the growing population, there’s a need for another hospital in the community.” • Michael Lutes Atrium Health

Earlier this month, the Durham Housing Authority relocated about 270 families from McDougald Terrace, a Durham public housing Stein complex, after inspections indicated elevated carbon monoxide levels in appliances. As a result, concerned community members have worked to raise funds for residents who had to temporarily relocate and deal with significant life disruptions. However, my office received notice of an unauthorized GoFundMe campaign that claimed to be raising money for McDougald Terrace residents. We worked with GoFundMe to shut down that fraudulent campaign and are keeping an eye out for others, but as we start 2020, the incident is a good reminder to be aware of charity scams. There are so many ways to give to charity and many deserving charities to choose from when you’re donating. Before you give anything, do your research. Prioritize charities that you are personally familiar with or that operate in your local community. You’ll have more confidence in how your donation can help make a difference. Remember to ask how your donation will be used, so you can be sure that your money is going to help those in need instead of paying for the telemarketers. Call my office’s Consumer Prosee STEIN, Page 3B

Union County becomes a Second Amendment sanctuary by Kayla Berenson kayla@cmgweekly.com

MONROE – In Virginia, many counties have declared themselves “Second Amendment sanctuaries” in response to the state legislature’s proposal of firearm restrictions. Some counties in North Carolina have followed suit. On Jan. 21, Union County became the fifth county in North Carolina to officially declare itself as a sanctuary for Second Amendment rights. It joins Rutherford, Cherokee, Surry and Lincoln counties. General Counsel Jason Kay said Catawba and Gaston counties will also consider this

resolution. Kay said four states have declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuary states, as have 228 counties spread over 18 additional states. Aikmus According to Kay, the resolution does two things: make two declarations of principle and three declarations of intent. The declarations of principle are to declare support for the Second Amendment rights of all Union County citizens and to declare a standing concern and opposition to any law that would unlawfully and unconstitutionally restrict Second Amendment rights. The first declaration of intent is broadly

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to uphold Second Amendment rights. The other two are a bit more involved, Kay said. One is “to declare an intent to guard against the use of Union County funds, Helms property, resources and other items to unnecessarily and unconstitutionally restrict Second Amendment rights.” The last declaration of intent is “to prevent aiding or assisting in the enforcement of unnecessary and unconstitutional restrictions of Second Amendment rights.” Commissioner Frank Aikmus asked the resolution to be drafted after observing the events in Virginia on the news. He quot-

ed Sam Adams, who said the Constitution should not be construed to prevent law-abiding citizens of the United States from keeping their arms. “Unfortunately, in the world we live in today, not everyone shares this opinion,” Aikmus said. “The resolution that we are discussing this afternoon simply states that as the duly elected representation of the people of Union County, we are concerned about the passage of any bill or legislation that can be interpreted as infringing the rights of Union County citizens to keep and bear arms or anything which may restrict the ability to do so.” see GUNS, Page 3B

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Page 2B • Regional Section • Jan. 31, 2020

HOSPITAL (continued from page 1B)

him a tour of Union County and expressed the need for a hospital and more expanded medical services. Woods said in the eight years Atrium Health has served Union County, it has invested $179 million in the community, providing jobs and economic growth while expanding access to quality health care. The 150,000-square-foot hospital will have 40 acute care beds, 10 emergency department bays, two operating rooms, one endoscopy suite, one C-section operating room, imaging services, lab services and pharmacy services. Additionally, the site will include a 40,000-squarefoot medical office building with physician practices. “This will be the largest development project in Union County’s history,” Woods said. “It shows that we are committed. We believe in this community and what we can be together moving forward.” Atrium Health began a strategic plan for the hospital between 2007 and 2008, according to Michael Lutes, market president. Lutes said as the county continues to grow, so does its need for a hospital in closer proximity to its residents. Stallings was chosen because it provides access to a rapidly growing part of the county. “Western Union County has grown so much and unfortunately, with that, it means there’s not really a hospital close by,” Lutes said. “So, bringing these specialty services and having a hospital locally will prevent people from having to travel into Charlotte or back into Monroe.” Though Novant Hospital in Matthews is located about 3.5 miles from Atrium’s new location, Lutes believes Atrium Health will be able to differentiate itself and serve nearby communities.

“With the growing population, there’s a need for another hospital in the community,” Lutes said. “We’re going to continue to grow our services, particularly around women’s services and cardiology and really have specialized services that will attract patients to Atrium Health Union West.” Dr. Natasha Adams-Denny, who serves as an OB/GYN at Atrium Health Union in Monroe, said she thinks her patients who live in Stallings and Indian Trail will be happy to soon have medical services closer to them. In his speech to guests at the groundbreaking ceremony, Woods thanked Stallings Town Council, the Union County Board of Commissioners and state elected officials for their support of the project. He also expressed his intent to partner with local organizations. “It’s not just about the care that we provide inside of our walls,” Woods said. “80% of any of our health is what happens outside of our walls, so we look to partner with other community organizations so that we keep people healthy, not just when they’re inside, but also when they’re traveling throughout their day-to-day lives.” Woods reflected on the last 100 years, when the first hospital opened in Union County. He said when Alto Mahoney ran Ellen Fitzgerald Hospital, it was common knowledge that anyone, no matter what they looked like or where they were from, would be taken care of. Woods hopes to continue that mission in Union County as Atrium Health Union West opens. “I think that Dr. Mahoney would be beaming with pride at this moment that a century later, we’re continuing the vision of caring for all,” Woods said. “Let’s launch a new beginning here and let it be that people 100 years from now are reflecting back on this moment on the care that we brought to countless lives.”

Top: The 150,000-square-foot hospital, located at 1500 Stallings Road, will have 40 acute care beds, 10 emergency department bays, two operating rooms, one endoscopy suite, one C-section operating room, as well as imaging, lab and pharmacy services. Middle: Hospital, town and county officials dig the first shovels in the dirt during the Jan. 23 groundbreaking of Atrium Health Union West. Left: Heavy machinery could be found at the future site of Atrium Health Union West at 1500 Stallings Road. Kayla Berenson/UCW photos

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Regional Section • Jan. 31, 2020 • Page 3B

Union Academy hires headmaster with school choice roots MONROE – John D. Marshall will become headmaster of Union Academy beginning July 1, the school announced Jan. 27. Marshall has worked for Marshall more than 30 years in K-12 education. He currently serves as chief operating officer for Brandon Hall School, a co-educational boarding and day school in Atlanta for grades six through 12. For more than a dozen years, he served as headmaster at three schools and in senior administrative roles at several others. His father, J. Stanley Marshall, was the president of Florida State University and in the 1990s became a leading proponent for school choice and charter schools in Florida. “I have been blessed, at this stage of my career in education, to have the opportunity to advance my father’s legacy in public education by investing in Union Academy, a charter school that seeks to develop the whole child,” Marshall said. “Academic excellence and character development should not be

mutually exclusive, and Union Academy has a clear and powerful mission to develop the whole child.” Jack James, who chairs the school's board of directors, spoke of Marshall's K-12 experience. “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 community,” James said. “We are excited to begin this next journey with Mr. Marshall and continue moving UA in a positive direction by improving educational outcomes and enhancing our relationships with the community.” Marshall is Union Academy’s fifth headmaster in the school’s 20-year history. His selection is the result of a six-month local and national search with the assistance of Carney Sandoe & Associates. The school used focus groups of staff, parents, students and community members to refine the search. Two finalists visited UA and met with stakeholder groups, with Marshall emerging as the hire.

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 community.” • Jack James Helms also said when the board was sworn in, they made a commitment to the Constitution. He said passing this resolution would “affirm the obvious.” Though Sheriff Eddie Cathey could not be present at the county commission meeting, Chief Deputy Todd Elmore spoke on his behalf in full support of the resolution. Elmore said the Union County Sheriff’s Office would not confiscate the arms of citizens who lawfully owned them. The board voted unanimously to pass the resolution. “This is something that if you don’t think we need it in these days and times, then you need to take another look at the news and watch what’s going on,” Commissioner Stony Rushing said.

GUNS (continued from page 1B)

Aikmus said by passing the resolution, the board would declare a deep commitment to “stand resolute against political winds” and protect the rights of their citizens to keep and bear arms. They would also openly oppose any law that would unconstitutionally take those rights away. Commissioner Richard Helms supported Aikmus’s initiative to bring the resolution forward. He said when he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1964, he made a commitment to the Constitution. “That commitment doesn’t expire,” Helms said.

DINING SCORES Health departments in Mecklenburg and Union counties inspected these restaurants Jan. 17-23:

Lowest Scores • Special Touch Catering and Deli, 1310 Wesley Chapel Stouts Road, Indian Trail – 84 Violations include: Certified food protection manager wasn't available; staffer washed hands in dish sink with dishes; block of cheese in reach-in cooler was spoiled with microbial growth; can opener had food debris on blade; sour cream and shredded lettuce cooled slowly in walk-in cooler; and cut melon, sliced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, deli meats, cheeses, cooked pasta, cooked taco beef, milk and cooked taco chicken didn't have date marks. • LAM's Kitchen, 1369 Chestnut Lane, Matthews – 90 Violations include: Plas-

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

tic pan was in hand sink; raw seafood was stored above ready-to-eat vegetables in walk-in cooler; hot and sour soup wasn't held hot enough; raw duck wasn't held cold enough; and dishes were stacked wet.

Indian Trail • Bojangles', 6550 Old Monroe Road – 95 • Cathy's Coffee, 606 Indian Trail Road – 98.5 • Lady's Go-Gos, 3816 Sardis Church Road – 98 • Special Touch Catering and Deli, 1310 Wesley Chapel Stouts Road – 84 • Viva Chicken, 6461 Old Monroe Road – 97

Matthews • Cracker Barrel, 9330 E. Independence Blvd. – 94.5 • Harris Teeter (meats & seafood), 7800 Stevens Mill Road – 91.5 • Harris Teeter (produce),

Matthews 11100 Monroe Rd. 704-841-2025

7800 Stevens Mill Road – 100 • LAM's Kitchen, 1369, 1369 Chestnut Lane – 90 • Poppy Seeds Bagels, 1311 Chestnut Lane – 97.5

Monroe • Ala Azteca Butcher Shop, 2300 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 93 • Edible Arrangements, 3306 U.S. 74 W. – 98 • El Ranchero Supermarket, 322 N. Sutherland Ave. – 92 • Firehouse Subs, 2319 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 95 • Jin Jin, 221 E. Franklin St. – 97 • Rocky River Crossroads, 1002 Rocky River Road S. – 95 • The Sandwich Shop, 100 N. Secrest Ave. – 99 • Subway, 1811 Dickerson Blvd. – 94.5 • Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 2335 W. Roosevelt Blvd. – 100

Waxhaw • Mary O'Neill's Irish Pub, 116 W. N. Main St. – 98.5

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Lance Penegar METROLINA CHRISTIAN Metrolina Christian’s Lance Penegar placed third in the boys championship shot put (52-1) at the prestigious Virginia Showcase on Jan. 19. Penegar is currently ranked fifth in the state in that event this winter. Are you a coach and know an incredible athlete you’d like us to feature? email us at Andrew@cmgweekly.com

SPELLING (continued from page 1B)

“I was excited at first but as the rounds continued, I started to get nervous. There was a lot of tough competition this year,” Daniel said. “I studied a lot to prepare. I’m going to try to come back again next year.” Alexia will represent UCPS at a regional spelling bee. Spelling bee participants Antioch Elementary: Pranav Premkumar Benton Heights Elementary: Ana Ramos Cuthbertson Middle: Manvel Gevorgyan East Elementary: Marisol Flores Martinez East Union Middle: Gabrielle Snuggs Fairview Elementary: Emily Nunez-Rivera Health Sciences Academy at Monroe Middle: Malik Simpson Hemby Bridge Elementary: Ike Burch Indian Trail Elementary: Anugraha Sibu Kensington Elementary: Duncan Cannon Marshville Elementary: Annabel Ortiz Marvin Elementary: Ashita Munugala Marvin Ridge Middle: David Peterson New Salem Elementary: Lane Stegall

STEIN (continued from page 1B)

tection Division at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM to check whether the charity has complaints against it and check its license with the Secretary of State. You can also research a charity’s ratings and history using resources including the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar. Watch out for fake charities that have names very close to the names of real charities. Scammers use this trick to confuse you into thinking you’re giving to a legitimate charity. Don’t be pressured by pushy telemarketers. No one should pressure you into giving money or sharing your personal or financial information on the spot. And watch out for unsolicited emails and text messages or unverifiable social media posts asking for your donation. They could be phishing scams that will redirect you to copycat websites to steal your personal information. Once you’ve chosen a charity, contact it at a website or phone number you know to be valid. If you’re donating online, make sure the website is secure – look for a lock icon in the address bar and a URL that begins with “https.” It’s best to pay by credit card for security and tax record purposes. If you decide to pay by check, make it out to the charity, not an individual.

New Town Elementary: Reem Obeid Parkwood Middle: Giana Hasbun Piedmont Middle: John Curtis Flynn Poplin Elementary: Benjamin Conway Porter Ridge Elementary: Brihanna Ashcraft Porter Ridge Middle: Garrett Lents Prospect Elementary: Miley Thomas Rea View Elementary: Silas Mayer Rock Rest Elementary: Blanca Castro Ocampos Rocky River Elementary: Khloe Hall Sandy Ridge Elementary: Alexia Vega Franceschi Sardis Elementary: Reece Montgomery Shiloh Valley Elementary: Mariella Clark Stallings Elementary: Rishabh Thatte Sun Valley Middle: Christopher Cornejo Union Elementary: Alli Mullis Unionville Elementary: Reese Kiser Walter Bickett Elementary: Desmond Robertson Waxhaw Elementary: Macy Otwell Weddington Elementary: Mahir Balagovind Weddington Middle: Daniel Wei Wesley Chapel Elementary: Elijah Singh Western Union Elementary: Kendle Griffin Wingate Elementary: Jacob Mascorro When we give to charity, we’re making an effort to help people in need or causes we believe in. Scammers who use that sense of community to take our money are unconscionable, and my office will do everything we can to stop them. You can learn more about charity scams at www.ncdoj.gov/charity. If you believe that you or someone you know has been the victim of a scam, please file a complaint with my office’s Consumer Protection Division at www.ncdoj.gov/ complaint or 1-877-5-NO-SCAM. Josh Stein serves as attorney general for North Carolina.

BBB warns of text scam The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a phony text message that seems to come from FedEx. The fake message could also arrive via email. It addresses you by name and asks that you click on a link to set delivery preferences for your package. Don’t click. BBB has received 11 reports of the scam in recent days. Some people who got the text and clicked on the link were taken to an Amazon survey site where they were asked to input credit card information. FedEx Corporate Communications told BBB that it doesn't send unsolicited text messages or emails requesting money or package or personal information.

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Page 4B • Regional Section • Jan. 31, 2020

Matthews Playhouse cast puts in work to perfect 'Mamma Mia' watch a scene and watch it move director Ellen Robinson. Ensley into a song that the audience is fa- then began blocking, staging and miliar with. I want them to walk developing characters with the acMATTHEWS – Inside the Mat- away having a song in their head tors before they worked on choreography with Lisa Blanton. Then, thews Community Center, a group and a shuffle in their feet.” Ensley is returning to the Mat- all of the elements are combined to of actors gather around a piano as they warm up their voices. They’re thews Playhouse stage for this pro- put the show on its feet. “We do a whole lot in a compreparing for a long night of danc- duction. The Charlotte native has ing, singing and running scenes directed previous shows in Mat- pressed amount of time,” Ensley thews and has worked professional- said. until they get it just right. Ensley has enjoyed working with The cast of “Mamma Mia,” ly throughout the Charlotte region. presented by the Matthews Play- He oversees the entire production of the cast and putting the show tohouse of the Performing Arts, “Mamma Mia,” putting his vision gether, but the directing process has rehearsed and prepared for its together while staying true to the has not come without challenges. Many of the cast members work, opening since mid-December. If a classic favorite that audiences love. “The vision for me was that we have families or are in school while scene, song or dance does not play out the way the show’s leaders see would make the scenes and the balancing their commitment to the fit, they stop, correct it and run it characters very real with a real sto- show, so Ensley has had to find a ry to tell,” Ensley said. “Then, we way to manage schedule conflicts again. And again. And again. The show opens Jan. 31 and runs would make the music numbers while still rehearsing effectively. have a pop to them so that it’s a Almost one week before the through Feb. 9. “Mamma Mia” follows the story party atmosphere and a fun atmo- show’s opening, an actor had to drop out of the production. The asof Sophie and her mother, former sphere for the audience.” The cast includes a mix of sea- sistant stage manager for the show, “Donna and the Dynamos” pop star Donna, as Sophie prepares for soned, professional actors and up- Hunter Stilwell, has stepped in to her wedding on a Greek island. Un- and-coming performers. Ensley said take on an ensemble role while still beknownst to Donna, Sophie has he was able to bring in talent whom performing his backstage duties. He is not the only one wearing invited three men to the wedding he knew already, as well as pull from whom she believes could be her fa- the talent in the local community. multiple hats. Blanton doubles as ther. Meanwhile, Donna is reunit- He said it has been rewarding to get the show’s choreographer and plays ed with her best friends and former to work with some of his friends the role of Tanya, one of Donna’s backup singers. The jukebox musi- professionally while providing expe- backup singers. “It’s been a challenge,” Blanton cal score is to the music of ABBA, rience and opportunity for a youngadmitted. “It’s challenging to stop including the favorites, “Danc- er generation of performers. After the show was cast, the ac- watching everybody and rehearse ing Queen,” “Super Trouper” and tors were given their scripts and myself. It’s hard to let go of what it “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme.” “The women characters in this music and were asked to “do their looks like and just focus on what I show are strong and independent, homework.” Ensley said they had need to do.” concept of Blanton has choreographed in and the male characters are sensi-Thediscussions New York about Times the Syndication Sales Corporation Corporation andAvenue, their goals the N.Y. studios, tive and compassionate,” Director the 620show 10018schools and theaters all Eighth Newfor York, 10018 For Information 1-800-972-3550 After that,Call: they1-800-972-3550 moved over Charlotte. For this show, she Billy Ensley said. “It’s a good show production. For Release Tuesday, June 2019 For Release Wednesday, June25, 26, 2019 music rehearsals with musical drew inspiration from her own exand it’s a fun show. It’s also fun to into by Kayla Berenson

kayla@cmgweekly.com

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she knows what Ensley is expecting and what direction he wants to go in with the show. John Bayless designed the set. It is centered around Donna’s Greek taverna and gives the audience a view into Donna’s room on stage, as well as opportunities for the actors to enter the stage from other parts of the theater. By Jan. 31, the cast will be ready for its opening night. “It’s a challenge that everyone is up for and everybody loves,” Ensley said. “Everybody is so excited about being in the show that it’s worth it.” Want to go? Tickets for the evening and matinee performances are available at www.matthewsplayhouse.com.

LOUD&LIVE Jan. 31

Feb. 6

• Amos’ Southend: Black Flag • Beantown Tavern: Coconut Groove Band • Chip’s Bunker: Jade Moore • Coyote Joe’s: Jordan Davis • Evening Muse: George Banda • Fillmore: Space Jesus; Thouxanbanfauni – The Departed • Mia Famiglia: Karaoke • Moochies Tavern: Living Temptation • Queens South: Bootleg Aces • Southern Range: Longleaf • Steady Eddy’s: Joe Middleton • Stooges Pub: Darrell Harwood • Trail House: Delta Fire • Visulite: Sun-Dried Vibes w/ Jahlistic & Jeremy Anderson

• Amos’ Southend: William Clark Green w/ Flatland Cavalry • Bistro D’Antonio: Will Lee • Evening Muse: Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert • Fillmore: Greensky Bluegrass • Neighborhood Theatre: Tinsley Ellis • Temple Mojo: Open mic w/ Kelsey Ryan Duo • Visulite: CBDB w/ Schema

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perience listening to ABBA when she was younger. She and Ensley also attended another production of the show in a different city to see what they did with choreography. “It’s a little easy since I’m the right age,” Blanton said. “The ABBA music and the old videos, that’s my era. Being familiar with the music makes it easier.” Because she was chosen as the choreographer before the show was cast, Blanton had to adapt her choreography ideas to the cast’s size, strengths and experience. Once the show was cast, she could put the choreography together. Blanton has worked with Ensley and Robinson many times. She said it is “always a treat” to collaborate with them, especially because

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Alexa Thomas (left) plays Sophie, who invites three men to her wedding who could potentially be her father. Kayla Berenson/UCW photo

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• Amos’ Southend: Poison’d • Beantown Tavern: Jason Brigner • Cork & Ale: Scarlet Lemonade • Dunwellz: Music Bingo • Evening Muse: Jim Avett & Grizzly Goat; April B & The Cool & Lemon City Trio • Fillmore: Who’s Bad • Fox’s Alley: Lisa De Novo • Franklin Court Grille: Acoustik Miks • Lynn’s Dance Club: Too Much Sylvia & Johnny B • Moochies Tavern: Unknown Artist Band • Neighborhood Theatre: Donna the Buffalo • Pineville Tavern: Shotgun Saints • Spectrum Center: Tobymac • Stooges Pub: American Hair Band • Sweet Union: Taplow • Treehouse Vineyards: David Porter • Visulite: Big Empty w/ Glycerine

Feb. 2 • Mac’s Speed Shop (Matthews): SoundKraft • Mary O’Neill’s: The Belfast Beggars

Feb. 4 • Amos’ Southend: AJJ w/ Taco Cat & Emperor X • Fillmore: The Adicts

Feb. 5 • Fillmore: Peekaboo; Raphael Saadiq • Trail House: Pam Taylor & The Flyin’ V’s Super Duo • Visulite: Electric Guest w/ Soleima

Venues Charlotte • Amos’ Southend: 1423 S. Tryon St. • Chip’s Bunker: 6711 Freedom Drive • Coyote Joe’s: 4621 Wilkinson Blvd. • Evening Muse: 3227 N. Davidson St. • Fillmore: 820 Hamilton St. • Lynn’s Dance Club: 4819 S. Tryon St. • Neighborhood Theatre: 511 E. 36th St. • Spectrum Center: 333 E. Trade St. • Visulite: 1615 Elizabeth Ave. Indian Trail • Mia Famiglia: 7870 Idlewild Road • Sweet Union: 13717 E. Independence Blvd. • Trail House: 6751 Old Monroe Road Matthews/Mint Hill • Beantown Tavern: 130 Matthews Station St. • Dunwellz: 7110 Brighton Park Drive • Mac’s Speed Shop: 142 E. John St. • Moochies Tavern: 15060 Idlewild Road • Steady Eddy’s: 2216 E. John St. • Stooges Pub: 13230 Albemarle Road • Temple Mojo: 195 N. Trade St. Monroe • Fox’s Alley: 1901 Skyway Drive • Franklin Court Grille: 232 E. Franklin St. • Southern Range: 151 S. Stewart St. • Treehouse Vineyards: 301 Bay St. Pineville • Pineville Tavern: 314 N. Polk St. Waxhaw • Bistro D’Antonio: 3909 Providence Road S. • Cork & Ale: 113 E. N. Main St. • Mary O’Neill’s: 116 W. N. Main St. • Queens South: 1201 N. Broome St.

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Regional Section • Jan. 31, 2020 • Page 5B

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