Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

Matthews-Mint Hill Vol. 8 No. 48 November 27, 2015 www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Homegrown Holiday 2015 Page 10

Light Rail progress page 8 Hottest Matthews neighborhoods page 3 The perfect gingerbread house page 4

News Briefs 6 | Opinion 7 | Education 14 | Faith 17 | Calendar 18 | Sports 20 | Classifieds 23

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Page 2 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

RANBECJEWELERS JEWELERS RANBEC RANBEC JEWELERS

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WednesdayDecember December2,2,2015 2015 Wednesday Wednesday December 2, 2015 PM– –7 7PM PM 55 PM 5 PM – 7 PM Bring your friends and join us at our Annual Chamilia Christmas Event. Our staff and Chamilia representative will be available to assist you inand designing Bring your friends and join us at our Annual Chamilia Christmas Event. Our staff Bring your friends and join us at our Annual Chamilia Christmas Event. Our staff and Chamilia representative willusbeatavailable to assist you Christmas inserved. designing unique ideas.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 3

10 hottest selling Matthews, Mint Hill neighborhoods of 2015

by Justin Vick justin@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Families basing decisions to buy a home on affordability, convenience, luxury or value have plenty of options in the Matthews and Mint Hill area.

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly publishes home sales from the 28104, 28105 and 28227 zip codes in the second edition of every month, based on data from the Charlotte Regional Realtor Association.

We tallied up that data from each month through midNovember to see which neighborhoods sold the most in 2015.

1. Farmwood

• Zip code: 28227 • Homes sold: 37 • Bottom line: This Mint Hill neighborhood is among the oldest on the list and doesn’t have a homeowners association. It’s near the Pine Lake Country Club and Idlewild Road Park. Sales ranged $157,000 to $327,000, with 67 percent sold in the $200,000s.

2. Brightmoor

• Zip code: 28105 • Homes sold: 32 • Bottom line: The 559-home subdivision off Pleasant Plains Road in Matthews is near the Matthews Swim & Golf, but has its own share of amenities, such as swimming pools, tennis courts and walking trails. Sales ranged $154,000 to $290,000, with 56 percent falling between $200,000 and $250,000.

3. Woodbury

7. Sardis Forest

4. Summerwood

8. Telfair

5. Hickory Ridge

9. Morris Farms

6. Applegate

10. Versage

• Zip code: 28227 • Home sold: 30 • Bottom line: This subdivision off Interstate 485 and Albemarle Road features two-story homes designed by Centex. Amenities include a soccer field, basketball court, pool, clubhouse with kitchen and 107 acres of open space. Sales ranged $141,000 to $216,704, with half of the homes sold below $180,000.

• Zip code: 28227 • Homes sold: 25 • Bottom line: Ryan Homes offers seven types of homes, with up to six bedrooms, in the Mint Hill subdivision. The neighborhood offers a pool, picnic area and two miles of trails with a pond. Sales ranged $291,290 to $493,205, with 13 homes sold between $305,975 and $390,000.

• Zip code: 28227 • Homes sold: 23 • Bottom line: The Charlotte neighborhood is hemmed in

by East W.T. Harris Boulevard, Pence Road and Albemarle Road. Homes ranged from $46,116 to $140,000, with all but three sold under $89,700.

• Zip code: 28227 • Homes sold: 21 • Bottom line: LGI Homes builds houses for this east Charlotte subdivision, consisting of three, four or five bedrooms and two-car garages. Sales range $140,000 to $201,900, with 15 sold between $151,900 and $168,900.

• Zip code: 28105 • Homes sold: 21 • Bottom line: This 586-home Matthews community dates back to 1976. It’s also home to the Sardis Forest Swim Club, which opens to members outside of the subdivision.

Sales spanned $150,000 to $253,000, with 67 percent sold in the $200,000s.

• Zip code: 28227 • Homes sold: 21 • Bottom line: Bonterra Builders took over the homebuilding from David Weekley Homes in this Mint Hill subdivision off Lebannon Road after the recession. Bonterra offers nine types of homes. Sales span $339,000 to $456,580, with 10 sold in the $400,000s.

• Zip code: 28227 • Homes sold: 20 • Bottom line: The community consists of 363 homes just outside of Mint Hill town limits. Sales ranged from $61,000 to $131,000, with 13 sold between $102,000 and $131,000.

• Zip code: 28227 • Homes sold: 19 • Bottom line: This Mint Hill community, approved in July 2002, consists of 291 homes on 61 acres, with at least eight acres to roam the terrain. Sales ranged $176,500 to $268,000, with 11 sold between $200,000 and $230,000.

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Page 4 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

Picket & Plume

Perfecting the gingerbread house

Mint Hill, NC

Holiday, Gifts, Jewelry, Furniture, Floral & More!

Please join us for our 2nd annual

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11300 Lawyers Rd Suite K Mint Hill, NC 28227 704-840-0228 picketplume@gmail.com www.facebook.com/picketplume Stop by and see our great Christmas items in our Christmas Shop! We have ornaments, tabletop, Gifts, Jewelry, and many one of a kind items that aren’t sold in other stores!

Come by for a visit with us. We will be serving refreshments, snacks & confections for you to enjoy!

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Photo courtesy of Bissell

Ben Kallenbach, executive pastry chef at Ballantyne Hotel’s Gallery restaurant, weighs in on assembling an award-winning gingerbread creation He’ll serve as a judge at Ballantyne Hotel’s Gingerbread lane.

Kallenbach said planning ahead is his biggest piece of advice for first-time creators.

A few years ago, I decided to get crafty “Be patient,” Kallenbach said. “Plan for the holiday season and build a gingerahead.

It’s the same as anything else – bread house from scratch. I made a quick whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. trip to the grocery store and loaded up on Have a good plan in mind and a second graham crackers, peppermints and icing. plan in mind for when your tree falls Things pretty much went downhill from over or the house is leaning. Ultimately there. though, you need to have fun. Building a Two hours later, I had a whop-sided gingerbread house is a whole lot of fun.” heaping mess that somewhat resembled a Intake for creations rotting tobacco barn. at Matthews ChamI abandoned my “creBallantyne Hotel ber of Commerce will ation” and decided take place Nov. 30 to Gingerbread Lane to watch “The Santa Dec. 4, with judging Clause” instead.

Dec. 10 to 27 on Dec. 5. Intake at This year, Matthews Categories: professional, amateur, Ballantyne Hotel will Chamber of Comchildren take place Dec. 5 to 8, Entry forms due Dec. 1 merce and Ballantyne with judging on Dec. Intake from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8 Hotel continue their Judging on Dec. 9 9. Displays will be up gingerbread house Call 704-248-4017 for more information through Christmas, competitions. But as so participants should executive pastry chef build their house to at Ballantyne Hotel’s Matthews Annual last for a few weeks.

Gallery restaurant Gingerbread Awards will be given Ben Kallenbach atCompetition out at both competitests (and I can second tions.

Kallenbach said from personal experiDec. 1 to 23 when he’s judging, Categories: professional, amateur, ence), assembling the he’ll be looking for children perfect gingerbread Intake from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 creativity and attencreation takes planJudging on Dec. 5 tion to detail. ning, creativity and “You expect everytime. Factor in those Call 704-847-3649 for more information. one to build just a three ingredients, grab house,” he said. “You your friends and famneed to show creativity.

Do they put detail ily, and you’ll have a wonderful holidayinto their windows to make the glass look filled evening creating what could become real?

You need more than just a house. an award winner.

Kallenbach, who has worked in the There needs to be landscaping, an entryhotel industry for 10 years, has built ev- way, a snowman or a Christmas tree. I erything from small gingerbread houses once had a chef tell me, ‘Make it 360 dewith working model trains to two-story, grees.’ If the guest walks to the back of the large-scale creations big enough to enter. house, it’s as beautiful as the front.”

by Hannah Chronis

hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 5

Festival of Trees lights up Matthews Medical Center

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

MATTHEWS – The Novant Health Matthews Medical Center hosted its seventh annual Festival of Trees on Thursday, Nov. 19.

The event, which drew hundreds of community members, featured refreshments, live entertainment, visits from Santa and the Grinch and the lighting of dozens of holiday trees, currently on display in the hospital lobby.

Various community organizations donated fully lit and decorated trees to the hospital’s event each year. The trees are sold each year in a silent auction, with proceeds benefitting the Novant Health Foundation Presbyterian Medical Center’s hospital and community projects.

The trees will remain on display in the lobby at the hospital, located at 1500 Matthews Township Pkwy., throughout the holiday season.

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Page 6 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

The Weekly

WWW.MATTHEWSMINTHILLWEEKLY.COM

10100 Park Cedar Drive, Suite 154 Charlotte, NC 28210 Phone: 704-849-2261 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 704-849-2504 www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Editorial

WWW.UNIONCOUNTYWEEKLY.COM

Managing Editor Hannah Chronis Business Editor Josh Whitener Education Editor Courtney Schultz Development Editor Justin Vick Sports editor Ben Doster Faith Columnist Rev. Tony Marciano WWW.THECHARLOTTEWEEKLY.COM

Advertising Charlotte Conway Adrian Garson Andrea Mounts

Business Publisher Jonathan McElvy Associate Publisher Frank Vasquez Business Manager Brent Epling

Design Art Director Maria Hernandez Layout Editor Erin Kirby Advertising: adsales@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Letters to the Editor: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com Press Releases: hannah@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly is published by Charlotte Media Group. All rights reserved.

Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

News Briefs Matthews Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club to sponsor Holiday Boutique MATTHEWS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Matthews Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club service league will sponsor a Holiday Boutique at the historic carriage house Dec. 3 to Dec. 6, a Thursday to Sunday. The boutique will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m.

The boutique will feature more than 20 local Matthews artists and vendors.

The carriage house is located at 134 W. John St., behind the Reid House.

Matthews Chamber to host holiday gala on Thursday, Dec. 17

Mint Hill Arts to host annual December intake and show

MATTHEWS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Matthews Chamber of Commerce will host a holiday gala on Dec. 17, a Thursday, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Levine Senior Center.

Cost is $45 per ticket. Tickets must be reserved in advance by Dec. 11. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Black and white attire is requested.

Tickets can be purchased online at www. members.matthewschamber.org/events/ details/annual-matthews-chamber-holidaygala-2052 or by calling the Matthews Chamber at 704-847-3649.

Levine Senior Center is located at 1050 DeVore Lane.

MINT HILL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mint Hill Arts will host its annual December Litaker exhibit with an opening reception on Dec. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. Awards will be presented at 8 a.m. Intake for the show will take place Dec. 4, a Friday, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Dec. 5, a Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Cost to enter the show is $10 for up to three pieces for Mint Hill Arts members and $30 for up to three pieces for nonmembers.

Prizes will be awarded for Best in Show ($300), first place ($100), second place ($75) and third place ($50). Honorable mentions will receive a $25 gift certificate. Categories include water media; photography; three dimensional; and other visual arts including mixed media, drawing and graphics.

Mint Hill Arts requires a 20-percent commission on work sold through the gallery. All sales run through the gallery and checks are made payable to Mint Hill Arts. Commissions are paid within 30 days of the sale.

Visit www.minthillarts.org for more information.

Mint Hill Arts is located at 11205 Lawyers Road, suite A.

Levine Senior Center to host breakfast fundraiser on Dec. 5 MATTHEWS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Levine Senior Center will hold a breakfast fundraiser on Dec. 5, a Saturday, from 8 to 11 a.m. Guests will be served egg casserole, pancakes, sausage, grits, orzo surprise, coffee and juice. The event also will include door prizes and live entertainment. Tickets cost $10 and are on sale at the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s library. Tickets must be purchased by Dec. 3, a Thursday.

The center will be closed for Thanksgiving on Nov. 26 and 27, for Christmas on Dec. 24 and 25, and New Years on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, 2016.

Levine Senior Center is located at 1050 DeVore Lane.

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Club prospective member coffee on Dec. 10, a Thursday, at 11:15 a.m. Women will meet other newcomers and hear about club-sponsored monthly activities and interest groups.

The coffee will be held at 4043 Holly Villa Circle. RSVP to Dianne Tarsitano at 803-8041785. Call Joni McCrorry at 980-939-1501 for membership information or visit www.char lottenewcomers.org.

Matthews Heritage Museum looking for new volunteers MATTHEWS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Matthews Heritage Museum is looking for volunteers to help conduct guided tours for senior groups, schools and Scouts. Volunteers will learn Matthews history, from its early settlers to present day.

Volunteers are asked to take two, three-hour shifts at the museum, or give two tours a month. Training takes place on the first Tuesday of every month.

Interested volunteers should call 704-7084996.

Matthews Heritage Museum is located at 232 N. Trade St.

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 7

Opinion

Thank you for supporting our changes at the Weekly It seems appropriate, during this week of Thanksgiving, to express my gratitude to a couple of groups of people, the first being you, our readers.

Five months ago, our company acquired the Weekly group of newspapers from Alain Lillie and his company, not exactly sure what kind of reception we’d get or what work we’d have to do once we arrived. What we learned was that Alain built wonderful Jonathan McElvy brands of community newspapers, but also realizing we could tweak a few things here and there to make our local news organization even more valuable to our readers.

But what surprised me even more was the welcome we received from readers all over our area – from Matthews, Mint Hill, Union County, south Charlotte and Ballantyne. I try to keep a folder of emails I receive from our readers in the area, and as of today, I have 211 notes from people who either really like what we’ve done or wish we’d go lose a boxing match to Cam Newton.

Whether readers know this or not, feedback from you is a large part of the compensation we receive every week. It’s no secret that newspaper people – especially these days – don’t get rich publishing local, community newspapers. Once, long, long ago, this was a lucrative business that

afforded owners second homes and big boats.

These days, the role of local, community journalism is as much a service as anything else.

Every week, our reporters, sales representatives and support staff publish newspapers with only two customers in mind – our readers and our advertisers, who faithfully support our publications.

The feedback we’ve received from many of you has been incredibly important in the transition we’ve made over the past few months. So thank you, and please continue to write.

And that gets to my second “thank you.” The staff at our office has gone through one heck of a transition, as well. We have changed nearly every single business process in our office, from the way we write, the way we design pages, the way we talk to our customers, the way we deliver our papers to the tiniest of procedures that are much too boring to describe.

Making changes like these are important to our business, but most of them mean absolutely nothing to our readers and advertisers. And what’s most impressive about our staff is that they’ve learned all these new ways of doing business without our readers or advertisers noticing.

You want to talk about a skilled group of people?

The staff we have at the Weekly has persevered through a couple of rough months, and in the end, I believe they’ve greatly improved the newspaper you receive every week.

It’s no secret that the newspaper business isn’t what it used to be. Large newspapers like our friends at The Observer have had a hard time the past five or six years figuring out where large,

metropolitan newspapers fit in the landscape of an enormous, fragmented media scene. In a sense, the same is true for newspapers like the Weekly. Each week, we question our value, our importance to our readers, and whether or not we have the ability to impact our communities in a positive way.

But then, I look back on what we’ve accomplished over just the past few months. From coverage of light rail expansion, to local election coverage, to our analysis of high- and lowperforming schools, to the need for local towns to grow their revenue, to renovations of places like Ballantyne Village, to developers who are working with our communities to attract young and bright minds, I realize that there is no other news organization in the greater Charlotte area that covers our neighborhoods better than the Weekly group of newspapers.

No one covers local schools better than the Weekly. No one covers local commercial and residential development better than the Weekly.

No one covers local sports, local restaurants, local crimes and local growth better than the Weekly.

That has nothing to do with a magic wand our company owns. It has everything to do with the people who live in our neighborhoods and are committed to telling stories about you, your friends and your businesses.

With that, I want to tell our readers about a new program we’re launching next week in the Weekly. When you receive next week’s newspaper, you’ll find a letter from me about a once-ayear program called “Voluntary Pay.”

I have worked at free, community newspapers for more than a decade now, and I learned about this program when I helped run a group of 60 newspapers. Basically, once a year, we send a letter to our readers and ask them if they’d like to help support local journalism. Think PBS and their fundraisers.

Programs like this are always risky, because we know there are many who will laugh at us, tell us we’re just amateur journalists and send nasty notes – trust me, it happens every year. But what we also know is there are people who really do appreciate what we do, who know that local journalism is important to the health of a community, and who know that our employees really do care about where they live and work.

This program is for those people – the ones who would support our publications if they had a way.

Voluntary Pay won’t impact where we throw our newspapers every week, and whether you can and want to contribute is completely up to you.

The money we receive doesn’t give me a pay raise – trust me. Instead, we use that money to fund our reporters, while also giving a good percentage of the money as a holiday bonus to the men and women who deliver your newspapers every week.

So be on the lookout for the letter next week, and thank you, again, for the warm reception to this community.

Email Jonathan at jonathan@ carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

PERRY’S Levine Center Breakfast MARKET Fundraiser

6727 Wilgrove Mint Hill Rd

704-545-6978

Perry’s is NOW CLOSING on Sundays so their employees may rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship should they choose to do so. �s� abou� our Senior� Discoun�

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Saturday, December 5th 8:00AM - 11:00AM

FULL TANK OF PROPANE

Good Mon-Sat: 7am-9pm Expires 11/30/15

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Now selling non-ethanol premium gasoline

Purchase your tickets at the Levine Senior Center or by phone using MasterCard or Visa.

Tickets are $10 per person.

Children 12 and under $7.

Levine Senior Center 1050 DeVore Lane Matthews 704-846-4654

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Page 8 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

Transit planner shares early findings

Justin Vick/MMHW photo

The 13.5 mile stretch of the Independence Boulevard corridor will likely consist of a mixture of buses, Express Buses, streetcars and light rail. Here’s a glimpse of bus and streetcar service from the light rail station in uptown Charlotte.

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The vision for mass transit in the southeastern portion of Charlotte into Matthews is beginning to take shape, as the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) continues to seek public input.

Jason Lawrence, who is leading the LYNX Silver Line study, shared some of his initial findings Wednesday, Nov. 18, with the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC).

The study will look at how and where rail functions between Uptown Charlotte to Matthews, as well as integrating bus service with the U.S. 74 Express Lanes project.

Lawrence led a handful of public meetings over the summer along the Independence Boulevard corridor to explain his study and receive input on the types of transit that commuters would likely use.

“We were not really asking them to choose between light rail or streetcar,” Lawrence said.

Instead, the conversation has been framed around providing the right mix of transit to improve the overall transportation network.

Commuters have been asked where they stand on a series of trade-offs, such as if they value a faster rail trip versus more stops.

Lawrence outlined some of the study’s initial findings: • Commuters want access to destinations throughout the corridor, such as Bojangles Coliseum, Ovens Auditorium and entertainment hubs. Lawrence identified downtown, the Mecklenburg County Sportsplex at Matthews, Levine Campus of Central Piedmont Community College and Novant Health Matthews Medical Center as destinations in Matthews that the corridor could support.

• There is a higher priority to establish an exclusive right-of-way for rail to increase reliability. This could limit long stretches of in-street rail service. It’s unlikely CATS will have shared use of CSX tracks, but could use its right of way. Lawrence said there are no strong options for rail in the U.S. 74 right-of-way, but CATS

could consider Monroe Road.

• Different types of transit may be more appropriate for certain users. Union County commuters trying to get Uptown might be better served by buses, for example. CATS wants to focus less on rail serving long-distance commutes because it doesn’t want to duplicate bus service on the U.S. 74 Express Lanes.

• Just as CATS is creating more of a northsouth commuter rail option with its LYNX Blue Line extension to University City Charlotte, it also could create an east-west route by one day expanding the Silver Line west toward Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

Lawrence will return before the MTC in May 2016 to present findings from the study, including the modes of transit, alignments, stations and conceptual costs. The MTC could adopt the draft the next month.

The MTC consists of elected leaders from Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville. They make recommendations about the Charlotte Area Transit System’s long-term strategy.

Davidson Mayor John Woods said it’s important for CATS to look beyond county lines for transit projects to be successful in easing congestion. MTC members have discussed the need for more dialogue about major transit projects with neighboring Union and Iredell counties.

After the first stretch of the LYNX Blue Line was complete, CATS tried to establish the Red Line commuter rail from Uptown Charlotte to Mooresville. But conservative leaders in Iredell didn’t support the project, mostly because plans lacked thorough financial analysis and a lingering distrust of CATS. Matthews Mayor James Taylor said he’s seen interest from the Union County towns, such as Stallings and Indian Trail, when it comes to the LYNX Silver Line Study. He’d like for transit options to extend to Monroe to help ease the congestion that passes through his town.

“If we stop on this side of I-485, we’re dead in the water,” Taylor said.

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

History 167 years in the making

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 9

McEwen Historic Village welcomes pre-Civil War era log cabin

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

MINT HILL – The Civil War had yet to begin when Confederate soldier John Brigman and his wife, Elizabeth, built and moved into their log cabin home.

The 167-year-old, historic cabin will soon become the latest addition to Mint Hill’s ever-expanding Carl J. McEwen Historic Village.

“We had been wanting a log house,” said Becky Griffin, president of the Mint Hill Historical Society, which oversees the village.

“We felt that was an important part of (local) history.”

The 357-square-foot, one-room cabin was constructed in 1848 on land bordering what is now Medlin Road in Union County.

The cabin eventually became known as “Brigman Cabin” after Brigman’s death in 1864, and changed ownership – and location – several times over the next century-and-a-half. The building recently made a 9-mile journey up N.C. 51 from land off Reverdy Lane to the historic village, where it will eventually be restored and turned into a museum.

Leaders with the Mint Hill Historical Society learned about the cabin from Dan Morrill, with Mecklenburg County’s Historic Landmarks Commission, and Matthews Historical Foundation President Paula Lester. The cabin sat on 30-something acres off Reverdy Lane for years and had remained virtually untouched for a decade. Current property owner Faison Enterprises plans to develop the land where the cabin was located, which left two options: move the cabin, or tear it down.

Upon viewing the house, Griffin was immediately set on moving it to the historic village. But she and fellow society leaders were left with a question: how could they use a cabin built in 1848, when the history their village tells doesn’t start until the 1870s?

“It was an immediate, ‘Yes, we want it,’ but we were torn ‘twixt and ‘tween on how to use it,” Griffin said.

It was determined the home was the perfect opportunity to tell the story of “the tenant farmer.” Tenant farmers often took up residence in smaller, older houses on farms, where property owners and their families lived in larger, newer homes.

“With every farmer, it worked a different way,” Griffin said.

“Sometimes tenants stayed almost a lifetime on a farm.”

The cabin made its journey from Reverdy Lane to the historic village, at 7601 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, between 9 and 10 p.m. on Nov. 15, a Sunday evening. It currently sits at the back of the property at the site, where it will officially settle.

In the coming months, Mint Hill historians will conduct research to learn more about what type of furniture tenant farmer homes would have included. Griffin said they also plan to recruit volunteers to help restore the house. Restoration will include installing a new roof with white oak shingles and rebuilding the porch, which was detached and broken down so the cabin could be moved.

Griffin also hopes to eventually attach a kitchen to the house – something that could soon be possible, as the society might receive another log cabin in the near future.

The historical society is seeking volunteers able to do heavy lifting to help with rebuilding and restoration, as well as people who could craft handmade white oak shingles. Griffin also said the organization hopes to connect with local residents with stories of tenant farmers.

“If you have a story about a tenant family, or a sharecropper story, contact us and share it with us,” Griffin said.

Those interested in volunteering or sharing a tenant farmer story can call 704-573-0726.

Learn more about the Carl J. McEwen Historic Village at www. minthillhistory.com.

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(Above) Brigman cabin before it was recently moved. The cabin now sits on the property owned by Mint Hill Historical Society (below).

Josh Whitener/MMHW photo

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Page 10 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

Celebrate the holiday season around Matthews, Mint Hill starts at 6:30 p.m. and will feature popcorn, refreshments and local food trucks. The movie will begin at 8 p.m., and attendees are encouraged to bring a comfortable chair. Admission is free.

Find more information at www.matthewsfun.com. The Crews Recreation Center is located at 1201 Crews Road

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and towns, churches, theater groups and other organizations throughout the area aim to help people catch the holiday spirit this season through a variety of festivities.

So, whether you’re in the mood for a holiday theater experience, looking for Christmas lights and trees or hoping to celebrate the season with family-friendly activities, check out Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly’s annual holiday guide to find the most popular yuletide festivities near you.

And, as always, if you know of a special event in the area, let us know. Email submissions for our Community Calendar to josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday season.

Matthews Ballet to perform ‘The Nutcracker’ at Fullwood Theater

MATTHEWS – Matthews Ballet will perform selections from “The Nutcracker” on Nov. 28 and 29 and Dec. 5 and 6. Saturday performances will take place at 7 p.m., and Sunday performances are scheduled for 3 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 years old and younger, and can be purchased at the Matthews Community Center.

All performances will take place at Fullwood Theater, part of the Matthews Community Center, at 100 McDowell St. Find more information at www.matthewsfun.org.

Mint Hill Chamber to host Holiday Business After Hours

Downtown Matthews Hometown Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting

at 5 p.m. at Hawthorne’s New York Pizza & Bar. Food will include baked ziti, fettuccini Alfredo with chicken, tossed salad, garlic knots and dessert. Call 704-545-8089 for more information.

Mint Hill to host Christmas tree lighting

MINT HILL – The town will host its annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec. 3, a Thursday, at 7 p.m. in front of town hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane. The annual event features live entertainment, refreshments and a visit from Santa. Call 704-545-9726 for more information.

First Friday Food Truck and Movie Night

MINT HILL – The Mint Hill Chamber of Commerce will host a Holiday Business After Hours on Dec. 3, a Thursday,

MATTHEWS – The Crews Recreation Center will host a First Friday Food Truck and Movie Night on Dec. 4, a Friday, with a showing of the film “Gremlins.” The event

MATTHEWS – Downtown Matthews will host its annual Hometown Holiday Celebration on Dec. 5, a Saturday, from 3 to 6 p.m. The event will take place on the town green, in front of town hall, located at 232 Matthews Station St. The celebration will include crafts for kids, carriage rides, entertainment, caricature artists, food vendors, interactive displays, photo opportunities and more. Santa will arrive and light the Christmas tree in front of town hall, complete with pyrotechnics.

The event is free to attend. Find more information at www.matthewsfun.com

Annual Downtown Matthews Holiday Stroll and Treasure Hunt

MATTHEWS – The Matthews Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Downtown Matthews Holiday Stroll on Dec. 5, a Saturday, from 6 to 8 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to stroll along luminary-lined streets for “special holiday treats, prizes and shopping opportunities,” according to a news release. Participating businesses will have refreshments and “goodies” available for kids and carolers, the release read.

People can pick up a map at the Matthews Chamber office, located at 210 Matthews Station St. The office also will (see Christmas on page 11)

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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 11

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Christmas (continued from page 10)

have treasure hunt bags for kids, and people who take the tour will be able to vote for their favorite holiday window décor. Admission is free. Find more information at www. matthewschamber.org.

‘Scrooge the Musical’

MATTHEWS – Performers with the Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts will present their stage production of “Scrooge the Musical.” The show is based on the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol,” in which Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a “profound experience of redemption” on Christmas Eve night, according to a news release.

Performances take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 4 to 20 at various times. Tickets cost $10 to $15. All performances take place at Fullwood Theater, part of the Matthews Community Center, at 100 McDowell St. Find dates, times and ticket information at www.mat thewsplayhouse.com.

Black and White Theatre to present ‘Christmas Presence’

MINT HILL – The Black and White Theatre Company will perform its original musical-comedy “Christmas Presence: A Holiday Alone Together” at Spotlight Performing Arts Academy.

The show, written by company member Andrew Pippin, combines an original story with a variety of well-known Christmas songs. Shows will take place Dec. 11 and 12, Friday and Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 13, a Sunday, at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $10, cash only. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Levine Children’s Hospital. The show is “family friendly.” Find more information at www. theblackandwhitetheatre.com.

Spotlight Academy is located at 7714 Matthews-Mint Hill Road.

Breakfast with Santa at Matthews Community Center

MATTHEWS – The town will host its annual Breakfast with Santa event for kids 2 to 8 years old at the Matthews Community Center, located at 100 McDowell St. Dates for the event are Dec. 12 and 19, both Sat-

urdays, with 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. sessions.

Families are invited to bring a camera, and children will have the opportunity to make holiday crafts. Tickets cost $5 per person, including adults, and are available at the community center. Find more information at www.matthewsfun.com.

Garden Oak Holiday Lights to support cancer research

INDIAN TRAIL – Brandon Oak residents Pete and Sherri Kimbell will host the Garden Oak Holiday Lights show for the fourth year in a row. The show features more than 25,000 Christmas lights synced to music and runs nightly from Nov. 28 to Jan. 1, 2016. Shows take place every 20 minutes from 6 to 9 p.m. on school nights and 6 to 10 p.m. on non-school nights.

Visitors are encouraged to tune into 94.5 FM to hear the show’s soundtrack. They’ll also have the opportunity to make a donation to the National Foundation for Cancer research. The show has raised more than $4,500 for the foundation since its inception in 2012.

The show takes place at the Kimbells’ home, located at 4026 Garden Oak Drive.

Find more information at www.goholidaylights.com.

Weddington to host annual tree lighting ceremony

WEDDINGTON – Community members are invited to the town’s annual Christmas tree lighting on Dec. 4, a Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m. at town hall, 1924 Weddington Road. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new toy and/or nonperishable food item for the Union County Christmas Bureau. Donors will be entered into a drawing to win a prize.

There will be a special visit from Santa, in which families will have the opportunity to take a photo with him, as well as the 2015 Weddington High School Carousel representative, Amber Parker. Annual town of Weddington ornaments, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and magnets will be available for purchase.

The event also will feature cookies and hot chocolate. Call 704-846-2709 for more information.

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Page 12 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

Silent Images serves domestically and internationally Nonprofit works with 138 local, global organizations in 2015

by Josh Whitener josh@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

MATTHEWS – David Johnson has dedicated his career to telling stories of hope amidst oppression, poverty and hardship – both locally and internationally – through his Matthews-based nonprofit, Silent Images.

A growing number of domestic and international organizations are reaching out to Silent Images to have their stories told through photography and videography. So, Johnson has adopted a philosophy: he and his team go where they’re needed.

“We’re kind of drawn to wherever the needs are – it doesn’t matter where the need is,” Johnson, founder of Silent Images, said.

“It could be here in Matthews or in Uganda.”

Silent Images team members have traveled the world, working with other organizations to document stories of triumph in the face of turmoil. Past projects have included covering the Ebola crisis in western Africa, documenting post-Typhoon Haiyan life in the Philippines and telling the stories of internally displaced persons, or IDPs, in South Sudan.

Domestic and local highlights include documenting a Native American community in South Dakota, working with Gastonia-

based sex trafficking organization On Eagles’ Wings and helping produce videos for organizations such as the Charlotte Rescue Mission, United Way and the Matthews-based Charlotte Eagles.

Community support has allowed Silent Images to serve 138 charities, local and abroad, so far in 2015, Johnson said. The latter months of each year often are spent helping local charities with fundraiser events and promotional videos, he added.

One of Silent Images’ ongoing projects includes covering the governmental revolution in Burma, also called Myanmar. Johnson has traveled to Burma multiple times over the past several years to document both previous human rights violations in the country and the nation’s transformation to a more democratic environment.

Earlier this year, Johnson spent time in Texas, documenting work between the Dalai Lama and former President George W. Bush, as the Bush Foundation worked to promote democracy in Burma.

“What they’re doing is identifying young leaders advocating for democracy, and bringing them to the U.S. to kind of train them but also expose them to democracy,” Johnson said. “… The idea is to identify them, expose them, train them and hopefully make them better leaders in Burma when they go back.”

Johnson plans to return to Burma in January 2016 to continue covering the Bush Foundation’s work with the nation.

Silent Images also plans to send team members this week to Cuba, and then Bolivia, alongside Carmel Baptist Church of Matthews. The nonprofit will document ministerial training and church planting in Cuba, and work with a human trafficking organization in Bolivia.

Johnson said plans are in the works to launch Silent Images’ first international satellite office. He said a young videographer couple plans to travel to South America, where they’ll live at various locations and spend a year doing work for Silent Images in multiple South American nations.

“As the footprint of how many organizations we’re able to serve in a year goes up, the other thing we’ve been able to is to launch our first full-time staff in South America, to launch our first satellite office of Silent Images,” Johnson said.

Johnson said there are no current plans to cover the ongoing crisis in Paris, since Silent Images typically focuses on communities affected by humanitarian crises and natural disasters. However, he didn’t rule out the option of focusing on the refugee situation – both in France and the U.S. “We continually serve nonprofits that serve refugees – it’s an ongoing story that

we’re telling for Charlotte,” Johnson said.

“The whole (Syrian) refugee crisis obviously is something we could be pulled into to tell the story … We take every opportunity we can get.”

Find more information about Silent Images at the nonprofit’s website, www.silenti mages.org. The Silent Images office is located at 100 W. John St. in downtown Matthews.

David Johnson, founder of Silent Images

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

The Weekly

Restaurant Scores

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 13 ration sink; cutting board with deep cuts and stains; plastic liners for carts with greasy build up and plastic wrap on metal cart; and chicken drippings on walk-in floor.

All Scores:

The Mecklenburg County Health Department inspected the following restaurants from Nov. 16 to 22.

Lowest Score: • New China Taste, 8112 Idlewild Road, 28227 – 91 Violations included: Raw chicken on sheet pan over raw beef; raw chicken next to and above cooked chicken wings; many foods in uncovered containers in multiple refrigerated units; fried rice in cooker held at improper temperature; multiple foods without date marks; cooked chicken pieces held five days after expiration date; three containers of white seasoning on wok cart; flour for breading chicken in pan directly under drain for preparation sink; clean cutting board behind faucet of preparation sink; upright refrigerator without door handle, area covered with tape; rough wood being used as shelf under prepa-

The Weekly

Community Spotlight

Tina Whitley has been the executive director of the Matthews Chamber of Commerce since February 2003. The Chamber will host a trio of holiday events in downtown Matthews next week, including the Dec. 3 First Thursday with Tina Whitley the Red Brick Partnership; a Gingerbread House competition and Hometown Holiday event; and Downtown Holiday Stroll, both on Dec. 5. Find more information at www.matthewscham ber.org.

Tell us a little about your role with the Matthews Chamber.

This position enables me to wear many different hats. I am responsible for all aspects of the nonprofit, and … (am able) to relate to all types of business people and help them use their Chamber membership to market their businesses … I also am actively involved in the Economic Development Advisory Council and an advocate for our businesses in all aspects of the town and surrounding region.

28105 • Best Wok II, 1819 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 94 • Deep Sea Seafood Market, 10020 Monroe Road – 98.5 • Hibachi Buffet Sushi & Grill, 9925 E. Independence Blvd. – 94.5 • Kabob-Je Rotisserie & Grille, 2233 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 97 • Panera Bread, 1904 Matthews Township Pkwy. – 98 • Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery, 1625 Windsor Square Drive – 97 28227 • Aggie’s Café, 7209-B E. W.T. Harris Blvd.

– 96.5 • Dunkin Donuts/ Baskin Robbins, 7005 Matthews-Mint Hill Road – 98 • New China Taste, 8112 Idlewild Road – 91

How has the Chamber evolved over the years?

We have grown from just over 200 members when I first started to over 420 at this time. We have a tremendous amount of meetings, events and programs for all of our members to be involved in giving them opportunities to network, market their businesses, volunteer in the community … Our organization has grown and is more active in the community than ever before.

Any upcoming events the community should be aware of?

We are working with the Matthews Red Brick Partnership to help produce the First Thursday events, with the next one on Dec. 3 in downtown Matthews at 5 p.m.; the Hometown Holiday event, including our Gingerbread House Competition and display in the Depot; and the Downtown Holiday Stroll will be the afternoon and evening of Dec. 5 … We will have a Treasure Hunt for the kids and a window display competition on the Stroll.

What's an interesting fact about the Chamber most people might not know?

A very unusual fact is that over 70 of our members are non-profit organizations. We have the unique ability to give back to those nonprofits in the community and the greater Matthews area … We will have donated over $5,000 in 2015 to area non-profit Chamber members, plus all of the volunteer hours our members have put into making this happen throughout the year.

We want to hear from you!

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly is always taking suggestions for the next community spotlight article. We want to highlight the people working every day to make Matthews and Mint Hill better than ever.

To suggest someone you know for the community spotlight, email josh@ carolinaweeklynewspapers.com.

Page 14 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Education

Q&A with Queens Grant High’s Jordan Frederick

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

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Why did you pursue a career in education?

My parents are both teachers (my dad is now retired; they both taught elementary school), so perhaps it was in my blood. I majored in English literature at Elon University, and when my senior year came around, I found that I had no idea how I wanted to use my degree. I knew I wanted Jordan Frederick to find a job that utilized my love for literature and that also capitalized on my background in theater, so when Teach for America approached me as a potential candidate, I applied and was accepted.

How do you help your students stay engaged in class?

If you walk into one of my classes, you'll learn pretty quickly that I am loud and energetic. It can be difficult to keep teenagers engaged, especially at 8 in the morning or just after lunch, but it's also hard to ignore me when I'm literally dancing around the classroom and acting out scenes from our latest reading assignment. I also think that my own passion for literature goes a long

way towards getting the kids interested in what might otherwise be an onerous task.

“Jane Eyre,” for instance, may not be every teenager's cup of tea, but when your teacher is singing its praises and telling you all about how crazy (pun intended) treatments for madness were in the 19th century, you're more likely to give it an honest try.

As a published author, what advice do you have for other writers?

Read constantly and write nonstop. Honestly, the best thing you can do for yourself as a writer is expose yourself to good literature and write down everything, even when you think the idea is stupid or uninteresting.

Practice makes perfect, after all.

What do you consider the biggest challenge in education today?

Constantly changing student culture is a huge issue for me. Teenagers aren't the same as they were when I was in high school, and it seems like every year introduces the necessity to reevaluate the way I teach. It may seem like a trivial thing, but the ever-increasing dependence on technology … and the expectations that students have of themselves, their classmates, and their teachers are constantly evolving, and it can be quite a challenge to keep up. Attendance (or the lack thereof) is big, too. You can't teach kids who aren't in school, and when they're absent, they miss material that they often never catch up on.

Area high schools earn honors at state theater festival

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Matthews and Mint Hill high schools have competed in the North Carolina Theatre Conference High School Play Festival for many years as a way to bring art education to life.

Participating schools present a one-act play for judges at eight regional sites. The top two productions from those site advances to the NCTC State High School Play Festival. Winners there represent the state at the Southeastern Theatre Conference’s annual convention.

The following high schools and students earn numerous accolades during two regional weekends on Oct. 30 to 31 and Nov. 6 to 7: Independence High School “A Young Lady of Property” Superior Rating Honorable Mention Distinguished Play (Second place Judge’s choice) Outstanding Achievement in Acting – Grace McKinney Excellence in Sound Design – Jeremiah Brown Providence High School “13 Ways to Screw Up Your College Interview” Barbizon Design & Production Award for Set Design – Katya Butte Excellence in Acting – Nick Hill Excellence in Acting – Andrew Gabriel

Butler High School “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” Excellence in Audience Engagement Barbizon Design & Production Award for Technical Theatre – Talitha McMillion Excellence in Acting – Miranda DiPaolo “Antigone” Excellence in Visual Impact Barbizon Design & Production Award for Stage Management – Chelsea Livingston Barbizon Design & Production Award for Technical Theatre – Talitha McMillion Excellence in Acting – Miranda DiPaolo Excellence in Acting – Keaton Delane Excellence in Ensemble Acting Rocky River High School “Among Friends and Clutter” Excellence in Scenic Design Excellence in Acting – Ashanté White “Gum” Excellence in Properties Design Covenant Day School “Still Life with Iris” Excellence in Production Concept Excellence in Acting – Erin McNulty “Limbo” Excellence in Acting – Haley Westbrook

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 15

Education

Superintendent, elected officials could set student assignment in motion

by Courtney Schultz courtney@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Educationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (BOE) Policy Committee met Nov. 12 to discuss ways the district will reform its student assignment plan, but board members say they need more input from elected officials and the community.

Tom Tate The committee, which is made up of school board members, will determine the boardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Guiding Principles for Student Assignment.â&#x20AC;? Some community members believe the policy needs an update to desegregate racially isolated schools.

The policy committee spoke on Nov. 12 about sending out a survey to parents to receive feedback about diversity and to rank the top three reasons families select a school. Some reasons included in the survey will be location, facilities, diversity of students, school environment and test results, among other options.

The survey also will address what families think is the best way to reduce concentrations of poverty, such as student assignment, increased school choice, increased partial magnet choices or attracting students from private and charter schools, among others.

Board members said district staff will start sending out surveys early next year and the policy committee hopes to complete the guiding plan by late next year.

Committee: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We can do it aloneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Policy members at the Nov. 12 meeting claimed they need greater buy-in from the community, particularly elected officials in surrounding areas.

They proposed establishing a Joint Elected Officials Team (JEOT) that would consist of elected officials from Charlotte, Pineville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius and Mecklenburg County.

Many board members have expressed concern regarding the lack of engagement from local municipalities and want to push for more â&#x20AC;&#x153;buy-inâ&#x20AC;? from community leaders.

Some have suggested townsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; housing policies could assist in alleviating polarized wealth and racially isolated neighborhoods.

However, the first task for the JEOT would be to review the student assignment policies in CMS. Local municipalities donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have authority over any education policies in the district, including area schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; budgets, which is left to county commissioners and state legislators.

But the policy committee wants to see a commitment to a partnership between area towns and the CMS board to help alleviate area issues. Local officials might be able to

offer insight into specific area issues.

The policy committee plans to meet in December to discuss the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feasibility.

Head honcho could make splash

Policy Committee Chair Tom Tate, District 4 BOE member, encouraged public input during a community forum on Nov.7, but expressed concerns about how a new superintendent could affect student reassignment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The guidelines set the direction for the district and then the superintendent is the person that makes it all work,â&#x20AC;? Tate said on Nov. 7. â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Ś Student assignment has to do with what the superintendent is doing. We have to make sure the (superintendent) will use the guiding principles.â&#x20AC;?

A superintendent makes decisions about teacher assignment and carries out policies.

The BOE is more of a last appeal.

Tate said the board hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t taken much action in searching for a new superintendent and hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t formally addressed current Superintendent Ann Clark staying past her contractâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end, which is July 31, 2016.

A new superintendent will come with new ideas and backgrounds, which could affect the way the principles are implemented, he added.

Many board members, including at-large BOE member-elect Elyse Dashew, said theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in favor of community input of the superintendent search. However, minimal information about the upcoming process has come from the board.

How can I share my thoughts about student assignment?

Contact Policy Committee members

CMS Policy Committee Chair Tom Tate has expressed a desire for community input. Contact him at tom.tate@cms. k12.nc.us to share your thoughts.

Attend a community input meeting

Superintendent Ann Clark will be at a Randolph IB Middle School, located at 4400 Water Oak Road in Charlotte, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 1 for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coffee and Conversation,â&#x20AC;? to give families a chance to hear an overview about the district and share their opinions with the superintendent.

Scott McCully, CMS executive director of student placement, will visit Crestdale Middle School, located at 940 Sam Newell Road in Matthews, on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss student assignment.

Complete the CMS survey in early 2016

CMS will send out a survey to parents to receive feedback about diversity, the ranking the top three reasons families select a school and the best way for the district to reduce concentration of poverty.

Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grant High School Nurturing the Desire to Learn

Admissions Open House December 1st 7pm-8pm

Weekly Campus Tours Every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am Come check us out!

Come explore our campus and see why Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grant could be the right choice for you! s 3AFE ,EARNING %NVIRONMENT s &AMILY &RIENDLY !TMOSPHERE s 3MALL #LASS 3ETTINGS s !0 #OURSES s (ONORS #OURSES s #OMPETITIVE !THLETIC 0ROGRAMS s 0ROVIDING A CHOICE IN EDUCATION THAT NURTURES LEARNING

Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grant High School is a tuition free charter school. We follow the Common Core Curriculum. We do this in an environment that nurtures the students desire to learn while holding students firmly accountable in both academics and discipline. We seek to foster passion for learning and to equip college bound students with the tools for academic success. At Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grant High School our teachers and administrators are committed to the integrity of the learning environment and are always seeking ways to enhance and uphold the priceless opportunities that occur upon that stage. Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Grant High School is a place of great opportunity for highly motivated students and actively involved parents.

4OURS ARE OFFERED -OST 4UESDAYS AND 4HURSDAYS AT AM 0LEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR GIVE US A CALL TO SIGN UP #AMPUS TOURS ALLOW VISITORS AN INSIDE VIEW INTO OUR SCHOOL DAY 9OU WILL BE ABLE TO GET A SNEAK PEEK OF STUDENTS IN CLASS CHANGING CLASSES AND GET A FEEL FOR WHAT A NORMAL DAY AT 1'(3 IS LIKE FOR STUDENTS 0LEASE ALLOW MINUTES FOR YOUR WALKING TOUR 3TUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TOUR

QUEENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GRANT HIGH SCHOOL 10323 Idlewild Road Matthews, NC 28105 Phone: 704-545-0736 Fax: 704-545-0738 Email: admissions@queensgranthigh.org

www.queensgranthigh.org

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Page 16 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

The Weekly

Life is about love, laughter, and family.

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Education Briefs

Mint Hill Boy Scout builds birdhouses for Pine Lake

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Between both schools, students checked out almost 20,000 books.

The principal of the losing school had to wear the winning school’s gear the following Monday.

LeGrand obliged in good sportsmanship.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Schultz

Butler Principal John LeGrand had to don Independence gear after Butler lost the Check-Out Challenge.

MINT HILL – Ransome Martin, of Boy Scout Troop 447, built and installed 18 birdhouses at Pine Lake Country Club in Mint Hill for his Eagle Scout project.

The Eagle Scout rank is the highest in the Boy Scouts system, and Scouts are required to complete a project that helps the community and builds leadership skills to earn the rank.

Ransome built the birdhouses as one step in helping Pine Lake Country Club earn its certification as an Audubon sanctuary.

Several members of the troop assisted Ransome in building the houses and Richard McDanel, the golf course superintendent at Pine Lake, supervised the installation of the birdhouses.

Butler wins game, loses challenge MATTHEWS – Butler High School won the football game against rival Independence High School, but Butler Principal John LeGrand had to pay the price after Butler lost the Check-Out Challenge between the two schools.

From Nov. 2 to 6 leading up to the big game, Butler and Independence’s media centers engaged in a Check-Out Challenge to encourage greater use of media centers.

Media coordinators Anne Bucci at Butler and Lauren Schultz at Independence created the challenge to familiarize students with media center resources.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Martin

Boy Scout Ransome Martin built and installed bird houses to earn his Eagle Scout rank.

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 17

Faith

The Weekly

I got caught in a brawl on Black Friday

by Tony Marciano tonym@charlotterescuemission.org

Let me take you back at least 10 years ago when Black Friday actually occurred the day after Thanksgiving.

My three kids were young and we decided to take them Rev. Tony Marciano out to experience the shopping mayhem. Back then, stores didn’t open until 6 a.m. on Friday. We got there at 5 a.m. and stood in line, not knowing what to expect.

I planned to shop at Best Buy and see if they had any crazy “door buster” sales. We stood in line waiting for the manager to open the door. It was 5:55 a.m. and we were all chanting, “Open the door! Open the door!”

He stood his ground.

Finally, the clock struck 6 a.m. He opened the door and we went charging in. I didn’t have anything in particular I wanted; I just wanted to experience the craziness.

I found myself where the camcorders

are sold. There was one ( “one” being the most important word in this article) camcorder left on the shelf. The time was 6:03 a.m. There were two customers fighting over it and I found myself standing in the middle of both of them. I thought one customer was going to hit the other to claim that piece of electronics for herself. If she missed, guess who she was going to get hit? I knew that was not the place I needed to be and got out of that situation and the store in a few minutes. I met my wife, who had picked up some folding chairs, grabbed my three kids, got in the car and went out for breakfast.

Someone once said you spend the first half of your life collecting things and the second half of your life trying to give them away. They’re right. I’m to a point in my life that I don’t want more “things” that I have to maintain, clean, store, etc. I told my kids I want experiences. Give me a gift card to my favorite restaurant and so I can take my sweetie there.

If the things of this world don’t bring us happiness, what does? A few weeks ago I decided to Google “happiness.” What makes us happy? What do we need to be really happy? Each and every webpage said the same thing.

Happiness doesn’t come from external

sources – the job we have, the house we live in, the car we drive, the spouse we marry, the kids in our family. Growing up, we think once we graduate college, we’ll be happy. Then we think if we can find the right person, we’ll be happy. Once we’re married, we think when we have children, we’ll be happy.

After the kids arrive it’s, “Once they go off to college, we’ll be happy.” Then we face tuition payments so we say, “Once the last child graduates college, we’ll be happy.” Then the kids are out of the house and we begin to say, “Once we retire, we’ll be able to be happy.” We retire and wonder where all the moments went.

Happiness doesn’t come from outside of us; it has to come from within.

If we are not happy in this moment with all the chaos and insanity about us, we will never be happy. It’s not the “present” that makes us happy. It’s “the present” – living in this very moment.

It’s not that camcorder those two customers were fighting over at 6:03 a.m. at Best Buy that will bring them happiness. Perhaps President Abraham Lincoln said it best, “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well my friend.

Faith Briefs

Matthews United Methodist to host women’s Christmas Tea on Dec. 1 MATTHEWS – Matthews United Methodist Church’s women’s group will hold a Christmas Tea on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. Guests will gather with friends and enjoy entertainment, snacks and tea while hearing about missions focused on children and young adults with disabilities. Donations will be accepted for Wings of Hope, Rainbow Express Camp and Rainbow Express Ministries. Visit www.matthewsumc.org/events/united-methodist-womenchristmas-tea to register.

Matthews UMC is located at 801 S. Trade St.

Advent workshop for children at Philadelphia Presbyterian Church MINT HILL – Philadelphia Presbyterian Church will hold an advent workshop on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 9:15 a.m. in the children’s wing of the church’s education building. Preschool children through fifth grade and their families are invited to kick off the advent season by learning how to make an advent wreath.

Contact Susan Griffin at smgriffin@griffinmasonry. com for more information.

Philadelphia Presbyterian is located at 11501 Bain School Road.

Send faith notes to hannah@ carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Church Directory ` MASS TIMES Monday, Tuesday, Thursday- - - - - 7:00 AM Wednesday—Extraordinary Form - - - 6:00 P M (Holy Hour, 5:00 PM ) Friday - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8:30 AM Saturday (Anticipated) - - - - - - - 4:30 P M Sunday- - - - - - - - - 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday—Extraordinary Form - - - - - 12:30 P M RECONCILIATION Thursday 5:30-6:30 P M, Saturday 3:00-4:00

PM

3635 Park Road † Charlotte 28209 † 704-523-4641 † StAnnCharlotte.org

DONATE G O ODS

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Page 18 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

The Weekly

Calendar November Eve 25 Thanksgiving Service Philadelphia Presbyterian Church will host a Thanksgiving Eve service. The entire service will take place in the church’s Kerr Building and will include “breakfast for dinner,” according to an event announcement. Attendees are encouraged to bring a friend. Call 704-5456172 for more information.

6 p.m.; Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, 11501 Bain School Road, Mint Hill

28 “The Nutcracker” Ballet

Matthews Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 years old and younger. Purchase tickets at the Matthews Community Center.

Fullwood Theater/Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews

Organ 29 Seasonal Concert

11,499-pipe organ. The event is free and open to the public.

6 p.m.; Calvary Church, 5801 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte

30

Intake for Gingerbread Competition

The Matthews Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Holiday Gingerbread House Competition and Display.

The contest will offer prizes in three categories: amateur – child/family (individuals 17 years old or younger, or a family group that includes a child); amateur – adult (individuals 18 years old or older); and professional.

The houses will be professionally judged on the morning of Dec. 5. Awards will be given for first, second and third place in each category. Key factors in the judging will be “first impression, proportion, artistry, difficulty and Matthews influence,” according to a news release.

Contestants must bring finished houses by the Matthews Chamber office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. Houses will remain on display through Dec. 23.

Call 704-847-3649 for more information.

Matthews Chamber of Commerce Office, 210 Matthews Station St., Matthews

December

Calvary Church will hold a community organ concert, featuring sacred and seasonal music for organ and piano, in the church’s sanctuary. The event will feature Calvary Church organist Elizabeth Hidebrand playing Thanksgiving and Christmas favorites, as well as a selection of hymns, on the church’s

1

Coffee with a Cop

Community can meet with law enforcement officers, ask questions, share concerns and build relationships in an informal environment. Officers from the Mint Hill Police Department will sponsor and participate

in this event.

9 a.m.; Showmars, 6850 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill

3

Mint Hill Christmas Tree Lighting

3

to 4 ‘The Spoon River Project’

Mint Hill will host its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in front of town hall. Call 704-545-9726 for more information.

7 p.m.; Mint Hill Town Hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane, Mint Hill

Independence High School will host a production of The Spoon River Project by the school’s honors IV theater class. Tickets cost $7 for adults and $5 for students. Call the school at 980-343-6900 for more information.

7 p.m.; Independence High School, 1967 Patriot Drive, Charlotte

4

First Friday Food Truck and Movie Night

The event will include popcorn, refreshments and vendors from local food trucks.

Attendees should bring a “comfortable” chair.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m., and the movie “Gremlins” will begin at 8 p.m. Admission is free. Find more information at www.matthewsfun.com.

Crews Recreation Center, 1201 Crews Road, Matthews

4

Intake for annual Litaker Exhibit

Exhibit, held each December, to all local artists – including members of Mint Hill Arts and nonmembers. The show is juried and will include prizes for the winners. Categories include water media; photography; painting – oils, acrylics and pastels; 3-D artwork; and other visual arts, including mixed media, drawing, graphics, alcohol inks, textiles and more. Artwork will remain on display through December and January. Find entry rules and guidelines at www.minthillarts.org.

4 to 6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday; Mint Hill Arts, 11205 Lawyers Road, suite A, Mint Hill

5

Hometown Holiday Tree Lighting

5

Live Nativity

5

Holiday Stroll and Treasure Hunt

The event will include crafts, carriage rides, entertainment, caricature artists, food vendors, interactive displays, photos and more.

Santa will arrive and light the tree, accompanied by pyrotechnics. Find more information at www.matthewsfun.com.

3 to 6 p.m.; Matthews Town Green, 232 Matthews Station St., Matthews

Matthews United Methodist Church will host a live nativity, featuring jazz reflections with Tyris Washington & Friends. Find more information at www.matthewsumc.org, or call 704-847-6261.

4, 5 and 6 p.m.; Matthews UMC, 801 S. Trade St., Matthews

Visitors can stroll through luminary-lined

Mint Hill Arts is opening its annual Litaker

(see Calendar on page 19)

DOWNTOWN MATTHEWS UGLY SWEATER NIGHT! DECEMBER 3RD, 5:00PM - UNTIL....

Don’t miss your chance to meet SANTA and His Elves and take your picture with him from 6:00-8:00pm!

Charlotte Chorale is our non-profit this month.

They will be visiting our businesses during First Thursday sharing their favorite holiday music with you!

SPONSORED BY THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE REDBRICK PARTNERSHIP BROOKECHASE PROPERTIES, JAMISON REALITY, JIM JOHNSON, LAT PURSER & ASSOCIATES, ROGER MARTIN, RENFROW HARDWARE, URBAN ARCHITECTURAL GROUP & THE TOWN OF MATTHEWS. E-mail: info@redbrickpartnership.org Facebook: facebook.com/redbrickpartnership Twitter: @MadeInMatthews

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Calendar (continued from page 18)

streets of downtown Matthews for “special holiday treats,” prizes ands shopping opportunities.

Maps will be available in the Matthews Chamber office, along with treasure hunt bags for kids. People also can vote for their favorite holiday window décor. The event is free. Find more information at www.matthewschamber.org.

Matthews Chamber, 210 Matthews Station St., Matthews

5

“The Nutcracker” Ballet

5

Matthews Winter Farmers Market

Matthews Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 years old and younger. Purchase tickets at the Matthews Community Center.

Fullwood Theater/Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews

The winter market is open every Saturday through April 16, 2016, except Dec. 26, rain or shine, and features a variety of local produce, arts and crafts, baked goods, plants and live music. Find more information at www.mat thewsfarmersmarket.com 8 to 10 a.m.; Matthews Farmers Market, 188 N. Trade St., Matthews

5

Latter-day Saints Christmas Sing Along

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will host a sing along to Handel’s Messiah. This free community event is open to the public and will feature soloists, instrumentalists and an amateur chorus. Music will be provided.

7 p.m.; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 5815 Carmel Road, Charlotte

8

Drug Use Seminar

St. Matthew Catholic Church will hold a seminar on drug use in the adolescent population Seminars will take discuss new terms in the drug industry, such as “Big H,” “Blunt,” “Skittles” and “Kratom,” according to a news release. The seminar will take place in the church’s New Life Center. RSVP by emailing jstumbo@stmatthewcatholic.org.

1 and 6:30 p.m.; St. Matthew Catholic Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlote

Hill Board of 10 Mint Commissioners Meeting

The Mint Hill Board of Commissioners is scheduled to host its bimonthly meeting where elected officials discuss and vote on town issues. The meeting is open to the public and will include the swearing in of the newly-elected commissioners. Call 704-5459726 for more information.

7 p.m..; Mint Hill town hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane, Mint Hill

12 Breakfast with Santa

Kids 2 to 8 years old can meet Santa and enjoy breakfast and holiday crafts. Tickets cost $5 per person, including adults, and are available at the Matthews Community Center. Find more information at www.mat thewsfun.com.

9 or 10:45 a.m.; Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 19

19 Breakfast with Santa

Kids 2 to 8 years old can meet Santa and enjoy breakfast and holiday crafts. Tickets cost $5 per person, including adults, and are available at the Matthews Community Center. Find more information at www.mat thewsfun.com.

9 or 10:45 a.m.; Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews

Ongoing “Scrooge the Musical” Matthews Playhouse will perform “Scrooge the Musical,” based on the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol.” Tickets range from $10 to $15 and are available at www. matthewsplayhouse.com. Shows will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with times varying. Find more information on the Matthews Playhouse website.

Fullwood Theater/Matthews Community Center, 100 McDowell St., Matthews

“Emerging Artists” exhibit at Mint Hill Town Hall Mint Hill Arts will host an “Emerging Artists” exhibit at the Mint Hill town hall through January 2016. The show features artwork of five young Mint Hill Arts members, including Reanna Brooks, a Providence High School junior; Sarah Kinney, a transfer student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Christopher Pariano, an honors graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design; Kaden Ray, a Providence High School student; and Victoria Xu, a Providence Day School junior.

Mint Hill town hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane, Mint Hill

Through Dec. 11 Matthews Gives Back Drive Matthews invites the public to help families in need this holiday season through “Matthews Gives Back” – a canned goods, toy and clothing drive. The initiative will help 15 local families with children 3 to 15 years old.

Interested participants can select tags from angel trees at the following locations: • Matthews Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station St. • Matthews Police Headquarters, 1201 Crews Road • Matthews Parks and Rec, 100 McDowell St. Interested participants can purchase specific items listed on the tag (clothing, toys or food items). Toys should remain unwrapped and clothing should be new. Deodorant and/or perfume packs also are requested for distribution.

Once items are purchased, they can be dropped off at the following locations by Dec. 11.

• Matthews Public Works, 1600 Tank Town Road • Crews Recreation Center, 1201 Crews Road • Matthews Town Hall • Matthews Police Headquarters

Send calendar events to josh@carolina weeklynewspapers.com

Dec 3-6

Belk Theater | Blumenthal Performing Arts Center

Matinee and Evening Performances Albert-George Schram, conductor Charlotte Symphony Chorus | Charlotte Children’s Choir Michael Andrew, vocals | Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works, dancers

H A ND E L ’ S M ESSIA H

Dec 18 & 19 7:30 pm Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts

Kenney Potter, conductor Charlotte Symphony Chorus

TICKETS STARTING AT $29

704.972.2000

charlottesymphony.org 2)),&,$/ $,5/,1( 2) 7+( &+$5/277( 6<03+21<

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Page 20 | November 27, 2015 | Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly

Sports

Butler falls to Mallard Creek, Independence bows out

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

Football season has strangely concluded earlier than expected in Matthews and Mint Hill with No. 3-seeded Butler (10-3, 5-1 Southwestern 4A) and No. 8-seeded Independence (8-5, 5-1 Southwestern 4A) getting ousted in the second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4AA state playoffs Friday, Nov. 20.

The Bulldogs were knocked out by visiting No. 6-seeded Mallard Creek (11-2, 5-1 Mecka 4A) in a 35-30 decision. Butler struggled to contain the Mavericks playmakers when it needed to most.

Mallard Creek quarterback James Smith passed for 174 yards and a touchdown, and rushed for a touchdown, while running back Chauncery Bowman gained 110 yards on the ground.

Butler will again be at or around the top of the Southwestern 4A next season, as it sets out to defend its league crown. The Bulldogs return a talented nucleus of key players led by quarterback Davis Cheek.

The Patriots challenged themselves with a difficult schedule this season, and overcame a rocky 2-3 start with a five-game winning streak in coach Justin Hardin’s first year at the helm. However, Independence didn’t have enough left in the tank to get past top seeded East Forsyth (13-0, 5-0 Piedmont Triad).

Independence appeared focused and well-prepared going into the game after a good week of practice, but the Patriots weren’t ready for or capable of handling the size, speed and talent of the Eagles, who soared to an easy 49-7 win.

The Patriots struggled to take care of the football, as they lost a fumble and senior quarterback Christian McPhail was intercepted four times. Independence’s defense failed to hold up its end of the bargain too.

It yielded more than 300 yards of total offense in the first half to East Forsyth, which led 34-0 at halftime.

Independence certainly had its growing pains, but this baptism by fire-like season was good for a team that started four sophomores on defense and had underclassmen filling significant roles on both sides of the ball.

An offseason with Hardin and his staff will do the Patriots much good as they continue to learn the ways of the new regime and what’s expected of them as they seek to take a former powerhouse program back to a prominent seat at the table among the elite once again.

Linebacker Tylon Clawson, who emerged as a consistent playmaker, headlines a talented group returning to the fold for next season.

While Butler and Independence were clearly the top two teams in the Southwestern 4A, East Meck, Myers Park and Rock River should be more competitive and vie for the league crown next fall.

The Ravens (4-7, 3-3 Southwestern 4A) were the youngest and most inexperienced team in the conference. Their youth was put on display quite often; however, they continued to battle. Rocky River has the athletes and speed to be a force to reckon with, and should use the lessons they learned to turn some of its close losses into wins in the future.

Quarterback Tyshawn Carter showed glimpses of his dynamic dual-threat skillset, and should be even more effective next season if he stays healthy and is given the protection he needs.

Ben Doster/MMHW photos

A time to be thankful, and a time to look back

by Ben Doster ben@carolinaweeklynewspapers.com

In the words of Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, “I’m thankful.” But seriously – I am. What I love most about Thanksgiving is it pushes us to put its namesake into action, but we don’t have to wait until Ben Doster Thanksgiving to be thankful. It’s a daily choice we make.

Now, let’s move on to the important things – family, food and football.

If you’re like me, you unashamedly have a pair of sweatpants ready to slip into following your Thanksgiving feast before spending the rest of the day making memories with family and friends and watching football, while easing in and out of a food coma.

I’m just going to put this out there – my mom can cook. She could probably give The Pioneer Woman a run for her money in the kitchen. All of my mom’s meals are awardwinning as my dad says, which makes my

expectations for the plates of goodness I’m about to inhale even loftier.

In case you haven’t figured it out I love my mom’s cooking. You can’t beat the tenderness of the turkey, dressing, homemade rolls that melt in your melt, oyster casserole, potato casserole, green bean bundles wrapped in bacon (yes bacon), cranberry sauce and pumpkin cheesecake with a brown sugar, cinnamon and pecan glaze.

One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions doesn't have anything to do with food, though. My mom cuts leaves out of construction paper and has us all write what we’re thankful for on our leaves and share them with the rest of the family. Now, I’m using a laptop to share what I’m thankful for instead of scribing my thoughts on a paper leaf.

I’ve been with Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly for about 10 months now. The time has flown by, which happens when you’re having fun. I’m essentially getting paid to play.

I watch sports, talk with people about sports and write about sports.

Can it get any better? It should be a crime for me to have so much fun. Some people would call it stealing, but somebody has to do it. I guess it’s my cross to bear, and I’ll take it up every day that ends with “y.”

I’m blessed to have wonderful coworkers, who make our office a fun environment to work in. The coaches, student athletes, teams and readers give me exciting stories that write themselves. High school kids never cease to amaze me with the passion they play with or make me laugh with their antics, jokes and sayings.

I arrived at the tail end of basketball season last February, making it in time to chronicle Butler’s boys’ basketball team’s exciting run to the third round of the state playoffs that was brought to a painful end

by Myers Park.

Baseball season was even more exhilarating, as the Bulldogs made it to the state semifinals before falling to eventual state champion Providence. Senior left fielder Jordan Huntley never failed to provide entertainment, especially when it came to getting his teammates up in the dugout. He was a leader with his play and an emotional catalyst, whose confidence buoyed others.

Summer came and went, and boy, was it hot, humid and full of super teams, features and football previews.

Fall kicked off with the launch of our new-look newspaper and an exciting season of sports, which included plenty of electrifying Friday nights under the lights and my

first Butler and Independence rivalry game.

Here’s to a closer game next season. I expect Justin Hardin and his staff will use that loss to motivate the Patriots during the offseason.

Sadly, the high school football season has come to an end in Matthews and Mint Hill, but next season will hopefully be even more exciting as Independence and Rocky River should be closer to being on par with Butler.

In the mean time, I’ll be focusing my attention on basketball season, which is setting up to have all sorts of hype on the hardwood. Butler, Carmel Christian, Rocky River, Independence and Queen’s Grant will serve our hoop dreams this winter with 32 minutes of up-tempo, above them rim action from now to March, which I’m thankful for.

I hope you all have enjoyed this year of sports as much as I have. We’re spoiled to have as many talented teams, players and coaches as we do in Matthews and Mint Hill, giving us much to be thankful for when you take a step back to think of the great moments we’ve observed on the field of competition this year.

Thank you for reading. Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

www.matthewsminthillweekly.com

Sports

Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly | November 27, 2015 | Page 21

Matthews-Mint Hill Weeklyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

2015 girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cross-country Super Team Runner of the year: Camille Martin Independence Camille Martin enjoyed a successful senior season, as she set the pace for the Patriots. She came in third at the Southwestern 4A Conference Championship meet, completing it 21 minutes and 18.05 seconds.

Kayla Glova Providence

Regan Cronk Providence Day

Kayla Glova made the most of her final go-round with the Panthers, earning all-conference and all-region honors. Glova battled her way to a NCHSAA 4A west regional win, finishing in 19 minutes and one second. She finished 11th in the state meet, running it in 18:48.

Regan Cronk stayed clear of the sophomore slump with a strong second year running at the high school ranks.

She earned all-conference honors after finishing sixth in the CISAA Championship meet (19 minutes and 58 seconds).

Claire Strickler Providence

Kiera Dowell Charlotte Latin

Claire Strickler was a steadying force for the Panthers as a senior. Her hard work paid off with all-conference and allregion honors. She won the So. Meck 8 Conference Championship meet, completing it in 19 minutes and 35 seconds.

Strickler finished placed 15th at the NCHSAA 4A state meet with a time of 18:50.

Kiera Dowell made quite the crescendo in her final laps as a senior. She was runner-up at the CISAA Championship meet (19 minutes and 30 seconds).

Sarah Parrish Providence

Mason Brown Myers Park

Sarah Parrish was a force as an underclassman. The sophomore ran her way to a spot on the all-conference and all-region teams, and came in eighth place at NCHSAA 4A west regional meet, running it in 19:26.

Mason Brown is not an ordinary freshman. She ran at or near the front of the pack this season. Brown was runner up at the Southwestern 4A Conference Championship meet, running it in (21 minutes and 5.89 seconds).

Ella Dunn Country Day

Story Gourley Myers Park

Ella Dunn is no stranger to running, but she was new to cross-country coming into this season. She made quite the splash, and put her competition on notice with an impressive rookie campaign. The junior was named all-conference after finishing fifth at the CISAA meet (19:43), and placed third in the NCISAA 3A state meet (19:12.50).

Story Gourley is becoming a household name not only at Myers Park, but also in south Charlotte and the surrounding area. The junior runner won the Southwestern 4A Conference Championship meet, finishing it in 20 minutes and 41.05 seconds.

Justine Cronk Providence Day

Second Team

Justine Cronk exemplified the term â&#x20AC;&#x153;freshman phenomâ&#x20AC;? with a stellar rookie campaign in her first year to compete at the high school level. Cronk, who was named all-conference and all-state, placed third in the CISAA Championship (19 minutes and 31 seconds) and 11th at the NCISAA 3A state meet (19:34.90).

Sam Huffman Providence Day Katie Brown Providence Day Kate Eiselt Myers Park Sydney Farris Myers Park

Julianna Leimer Queens Grant Ayana Dennis Queens Grant Noor Agha Butler Kathryn Jackson Butler Emma Wiese Ardrey Kell Lexi David Ardrey Kell

Coach of the Year Ken Waldron, Independence

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