INDEX: News Briefs, 6; Crime Blotter, 7; Scores, 8; Education, 12; Rev. Tony, 16; Summer Camps, 18; Calendar, 22; Sports, 24; Classifieds, 27 PAGE 18 Volume 8, Number 6 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 Locally Owned & Operated www.matthewsminthillweekly.com Thanks to a recent mission carried out by David Johnson, founder of Matthews-based nonprofit Silent Images, Myanmar citizen leaders can now use their newly acquired leadership skills and training to create more opportunities for future generations. Photo courtesy of Silent Images. See more in Crystal O'Gorman's story on page 3. Three fire departments respond to Mint Hill fire MINT HILL – Local firefighters breathed a sigh of relief last week after they were able to contain a fire that destroyed much of a Mint Hill home before it spread any further. The Mint Hill Volunteer Fire Department received a call at 3:26 a.m. on Jan. 28, a Wednesday, about a house fire in the 7200 block of Forrest Rader Drive. Firefighters from the Mint Hill department, as well as the nearby Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department and Robinson Fire & Rescue in Charlotte, responded to the scene. A family of five lived at the home, sources said, and a 25-year-old son woke his family after smelling smoke. All family members had New I-485 lanes look ready for drivers, but state says they’ll have to wait by Ryan Pitkin [email protected]While the expansion of Interstate 485 has cre- ated some rush-hour relief on the southwestern part of the highway, extra lanes planned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the future have created unrest among some drivers. When the NCDOT opened a lane on each side of I-485 between Interstate 77 and Rea Road in December, drivers realized the NCDOT actually constructed twice that amount, with another lane to be saved for use as a toll lane, which won’t open for another five years at the earliest. The construction of the toll lane during the most recent expansion project saved the state $18 million, according to the NCDOT, and pre- vented another construction slowdown in the near future. However, the sight of the fully fin- ished lane, blocked off by traffic cones until it can be used as a toll lane, has disgruntled some drivers as they continue to sit in traffic during (see I-485 on page 10) by Josh Whitener [email protected](see Mint Hil fire on page 11) New era, new stories Firefighters contain house fire on Forrest Rader Drive 2015 Photo courtesy of Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department
Volume 8, Number 6 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 Locally Owned & Operatedwww.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Thanks to a recent mission carried out by David Johnson, founder of Matthews-based nonprofit Silent Images, Myanmar citizen leaders can now use their newly acquired leadership skills and training to create more opportunities for future generations. Photo courtesy of Silent Images. See more in Crystal O'Gorman's story on page 3.
Three fire departments respond to Mint Hill fire
MINT HILL – Local firefighters breathed a sigh of relief last week after they were able to contain a fire that destroyed much of a Mint Hill home before it spread any further.
The Mint Hill Volunteer Fire Department
received a call at 3:26 a.m. on Jan. 28, a Wednesday, about a house fire in the 7200 block of Forrest Rader Drive. Firefighters from the Mint Hill department, as well as the nearby Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department and Robinson Fire & Rescue in Charlotte, responded to the scene.
A family of five lived at the home, sources said, and a 25-year-old son woke his family after smelling smoke. All family members had
New I-485 lanes look ready for drivers, but state says they’ll have to wait
While the expansion of Interstate 485 has cre-ated some rush-hour relief on the southwestern part of the highway, extra lanes planned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the future have created unrest among some drivers.
When the NCDOT opened a lane on each side of I-485 between Interstate 77 and Rea Road in December, drivers realized the NCDOT actually constructed twice that amount, with another lane to be saved for use as a toll lane, which won’t open for another five years at the earliest.
The construction of the toll lane during the most recent expansion project saved the state $18 million, according to the NCDOT, and pre-vented another construction slowdown in the near future. However, the sight of the fully fin-ished lane, blocked off by traffic cones until it can be used as a toll lane, has disgruntled some drivers as they continue to sit in traffic during
Firefighters contain house fire on Forrest Rader Drive
2015
Photo courtesy of Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department
Page 2 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 3www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Newsfrom Myanmar, southeast Asia and western countries travel to Yangon and provide free training and mentorship.
Johnson, who also returned to teach pho-tography and storytelling for his second year with the fellowship, said 38 Myanmar fel-lows attended their first of three seminars last month. The DeBeor Foundation pro-vides each fellow with a camera, and John-son said he teaches them technical skills, such as composition, and purposeful pho-tography – meaning how to use a camera to tell the stories that align with their mis-sions.
He’ll return in May to assess their work, pick out their gallery of photos and help cre-ate videos from the stills.
Johnson said the most significant part of this fellowship is giving the power back to the people.
“These people have been taught to sup-press the individual, and now they are being encouraged to tell their stories,” he said. “This wasn’t possible five years ago – it’s a pivotal season for them.”
Yin Myo So, a 2014 DeBeor Fellowship graduate, agrees.
“Whenever we go back to our area and contribute what we’ve shared and learned not only from the DeBeor Fellowship, but … that the future is in the hands of young Myanmar/Burmese people,” she said in a video on the DeBeor Fellowship’s website, http://deboer.clickcom.com.
Johnson said he feels honored to donate his time to the fellowship and the people of
Myanmar. He hopes to continue teaching photography and storytelling there, teach-ing himself out of a job and passing that role on to this generation of Myanmar leaders.
“If Westerners are still leading, we haven’t done our job,” he said. “We have to put the power and opportunity back into the hands of the people.”
Silent Images is a Matthews-based nonprofit that tells the stories of oppressed and impoverished people in the U.S. and abroad. Find more information about Silent Images at www.silentimages.org, or call 704-999-5010.
Silent Images teaches Myanmar’s leaders how to tell their own stories
MATTHEWS – Tucked away at the cor-ner of an alley on John Street in Matthews, the whole world unfolds – the beauty, the suffering, the sadness and joy. Captured by cameras, Silent Images founder David Johnson brings the nature of human kind into focus.
Since 2006, Johnson has risked his life to tell the stories of oppressed people by trav-eling across the world as a humanitarian photographer and storyteller.
“Even though it’s scary, we (his team) know we are making a difference … the risk is worth it, knowing you are doing this to help others,” said Johnson, a 39-year-old resident of downtown Matthews.
Johnson traveled to Myanmar for the first time in 2011 to meet the Kachin peo-ple, who had become internally displaced because of the renewed violent attacks on their villages by Burmese soldiers. Most were living in refugee camps in the Kachin State, near the border of China. He cap-tured the stories of displaced people, who were suffering but still had hope for a bet-ter tomorrow. The Art Institute in Charlotte hosted Johnson’s gallery on the Kachin community from May to July 2012.
Burma, an Asian country now known as
Myanmar, has experienced political unrest since the 1960s, when the government was overturned by its own military regime. Each province formed its own protest groups and armies to defend its homes and push for democracy.
Fast forward to 2015, and the political climate has changed drastically. While the country and many of its people still face challenges – from farmers protesting for their land rights in Monywa to the oppres-sion of the Rohingya Muslims at the hands of extremist Buddhists – Johnson said he’s seen a lot of growth.
“There’s more life in Myanmar, busi-nesses are growing, new construction (is) underway and the first democratic elections are this year,” he said.
Johnson’s current role in Myanmar gives evidence of this change. His fifth trip takes him back not only to capture untold stories for other nonprofits, but also to share his gift of storytelling with Myanmar’s citizen leaders, empowering them to tell their own stories.
The DeBeor Family Foundation of Wich-ita, Kansas, hosts the DeBeor Fellowship for Myanmar leaders for the second year. Young entrepreneurs, business leaders and nonprofit founders apply for the yearlong fellowship, where corporate, educational and non-government organizations’ experts
Silent Images founder David Johnson (above) recounts telling Myanmar fellows, “You can be innovative.” Photo courtesy of Silent Images
Page 4 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
News
MATTHEWS – Corrie Burkart has a big job.
As the stage manager of “West Side Story,” opening this week at Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts, a lot rides on the notes written in her script. She calls the lighting and sound cues, ensures set pieces go on and off stage, and if something goes wrong during the show, she has to fix it.
At only 17 years old, the boss of the show is the same age as most of the cast – the way “West Side Story” was meant to be per-formed.
Matthews Playhouse’s Senior Musical Theatre Company will perform “West Side Story” Friday to Sunday, Feb. 6 to 8, at Fullwood Theater, part of the Matthews Community Center, located at 100 McDowell St. Tickets range in price from $12 to $18 and can be purchased at www.matthewsplayhouse.com.
“They are real teenagers, feeling the same things that teenagers have always felt,” Lisa Blanton, director of “West Side Story,” said of her actors. “It’s real for them, a timeless story about belonging.”
The music from the 1957 Broadway pro-duction and 1961 film likely will be familiar to many audience members. The tunes of “Maria,” “I Feel Pretty” and “Tonight” are the lighter and more uplifting points of the show, which is a derivative of the tragic story of “Romeo and Juliet,” retold to comment on racism and gang warfare.
Set on the upper west side of New York City in the mid-1950s, “West Side Story” follows the star-crossed couple, Tony and Maria. Maria, newly emigrated from Puerto Rico, works in a bridal shop with her broth-er’s girlfriend, Anita, and is pledged to marry his friend, Chino. Maria’s brother, Bernardo, leads the Puerto Rican gang, the Sharks; her true love, Tony, is a former member of the all-white Jets. As their love unfolds, so do ten-sions between both gangs.
In professional productions of “West Side Story,” youthful-looking adults are often cast, though the characters are written as teens. Leonard Bernstein, the original composer of the music, commented on this challenge in an interview in the 1950s:
“… we had the really tough problem of casting it, because the characters had to be able not only to sing, but dance and act and be taken for teenagers. Ultimately, some of
the cast were teenagers, some were 21, some were 30 but looked 16. Some were wonder-ful singers but couldn't dance very well, or vice versa ... and if they could do both, they couldn’t act,” Bernstein said in The Rolling Stone Interviews, edited by Jann S. Wenner in 2007.
Though many students in the Matthews Playhouse production are high school seniors, most have been training in the performing arts for several years. This is the sixth Mat-thews Playhouse show for Connor Neilsen, who plays Chino. Rebecca Davidson, who plays Maria, started dancing in third grade, and Emily Trainor, who plays Anita, started in kindergarten.
The cast was selected for the Senior Musi-cal Theatre Company through an audi-tion process that pulled from Mecklenburg and Union counties and beyond. Company members have attended classes all year, and “West Side Story” is the culmination of their efforts.
Because the program pulls the area’s young talent, the selected shows are challenging, with “West Side Story” boasting heavy sub-ject matter, difficult music and complicated choreography, performers have said.
The cast has worked hard, rehearsing for three hours a night, five nights a week for five weeks. Many students came to evening rehearsals immediately after play practice at their own schools.
“I haven’t been home since 6:30 this morn-ing,” said Connor. “Still, there’s no place I’d rather be.”
The company has taught the students more than acting and stage management, cast members say. Emily has learned the value of multitasking and staying organized. Rebecca said her experience in theater has helped her learn responsibility. Corrie is gain-ing confidence.
“It’s definitely a challenge to talk to my friends in a way that has to be authoritative … but nice,” she said.
Corrie, a senior at Marvin Ridge High School, hopes to study directing in New York or film studies at the University of Southern California next year. Emily wants to major in music. Connor is considering theater and economics, while Rebecca is focusing on an education in medicine.
“It’s a big thrill to go out on a limb (and) try something,” said Blanton, who has watched these kids grow into young adults. “They can do things they never thought they could do.”
Real teens, real talent in Matthews Playhouse’s ‘West Side Story’
Performers playing Chino and the gang in “West Side Story” do a non-costumed run-through of one of their scenes. Photo courtesy of Matthews Playhouse
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 5www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
News
Boy Scouts across Mecklenburg County will unite this weekend to fight hunger through the annual Scouting for Food drive.
Members of the Mecklenburg County Council of the Boy Scouts of America have spent the past week distributing bags provided by Harris Teeter in neighborhoods through-out the county. Families are encouraged to fill the bags with nonperishables and leave the bags outside their homes to be picked up by Scouts on Saturday, Feb. 7.
This door-to-door effort collects canned goods for Loaves & Fishes, a Charlotte-area organization that helps feed families in need. Last year’s Scouting for Food drive collected a record 240,848 pounds of food for Loaves & Fishes, according to a news release.
“Food donated during Scouting for Food will help feed our neighbors in need. In 2014, Loaves & Fishes fed 78,602 people in Meck-lenburg County, 48 percent of which were children,” read the release.
The community also can become involved this weekend by taking food items to a number of local drop-off sites – including Philadelphia Presbyterian Church, located at 11501 Bain School Road in Mint Hill; and the Arboretum Shopping Center, located at the intersection of Providence and Pineville-Matthews roads in south Charlotte, near Matthews.
Tractor trailer trucks and local Boy Scouts
will be at the drop-off loca-tions on Satur-day, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 8, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
People also can help Scouting for Food by visit-ing local Harris Teeters between Feb. 7 and 15. Food collection barrels will be stationed in all Mecklenburg County Har-
ris Teeters, and community members are encouraged to bring donations, or pick up some items to contribute during a shopping trip to the store.
All nonperishables are welcome, but prior-ity needs include canned meat, canned pas-tas, cereal, canned fruit and 100-percent fruit juice, the release said.
Loaves & Fishes works with a network of 20 food pantries in Mecklenburg County to supply a week’s worth of nutritious groceries at no cost to families experiencing a crisis. Find more information at www.loavesandfishes.org.
Boy Scouts to tackle local hunger through annual driveby Josh Whitener
Elevation Church pays $10.2 million for Matthews shopping center
MATTHEWS – Elevation Church has purchased the shopping center where its Matthews campus is located, with plans to utilize the property as the church continues expanding.
The sale was for $10.2 million, according to Mecklenburg County real estate records. The church currently leases about 45,000 square feet of the shopping center, which houses about 140,000 total square feet of space.
Chunks Corbett, Elevation’s chief finan-cial officer, said last week in an emailed state-ment the purchase gives the church flexibil-ity as it grows.
The shopping center, located at 11416 E. Independence Blvd., is home to Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Consignment 1st, Custom Home Pubs, Tuesday Morning and other businesses, in addition to Elevation’s Matthews campus.
Elevation Church was founded in 2006 and has 10 campuses in the greater Char-lotte region.
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly will continue to follow this story as it develops.
Matthews lawyer named ‘Rising Star’ of 2015
MATTHEWS – A team member of the Weaver, Bennett and Bland law firm, located in downtown Matthews, recently was hon-ored as a Rising Star for North Carolina.
Adam Bridgers, a lawyer with the firm, was recently recognized by Super Lawyers as one of 2015’s Rising Stars for North Carolina in
Business Litigation. This marks the sec-ond year Bridgers has been recognized as a Rising Star for North Carolina, according to a news release.
The Rising Stars list is comprised of attor-neys who are either 40
years old or younger, or have been practicing for 10 years or less, the release said. Selec-tion is based on peer nominations and inde-pendent evaluation across 12 key categories. Only about 2.5 percent of lawyers qualify to be Rising Stars, the release said.
Learn more about Super Lawyers and the Rising Stars program at www.superlawyers.com/index.html. Find more information about Bridgers at www.wbblawyers.com/attorneys/adam-bridgers.
Weaver, Bennett and Bland is located at 196 N. Trade St.
Seminar to focus on trusts, wills and more
MATTHEWS – St. Michael the Archan-gel Anglican Church will host “Wills, Trusts, Death and Taxes, Oh My!” on Feb. 15, a Sun-day, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The program will feature guest speakers Robert D. Lyerly Jr., attorney and certified public accountant (CPA) with Nexsen Pruet; and Terry Colen, CRPC vice president and senior financial advisor with Financial Advi-sors at Truliances.
Topics discussed will include: differences between a will and a trust; why wills and trusts matter; how wills and trusts work; how people can get started; and what people need to do now, according to a news release.
The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. Child care will be provided for a donation.
St. Michael Anglican is located at 2211 Margaret Wallace Road.
Open enrollment for Blair Road Preschool to begin Feb. 9
MINT HILL – Blair Road United Method-ist Church Preschool will hold open public enrollment for the 2015-16 school year start-ing Feb. 9.
Families will have the opportunity to join an open house public tour on Monday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m., and again on Feb. 12, a Thurs-day, at 6 p.m. Families attending the meeting will have the opportunity to enroll for the next school year.
Those planning to take the tour should RSVP to Amy Purser, director, at 704-545-0772 or [email protected].
Blair Road UMC Preschool offers a Mon-day-to-Friday preschool program for children 18 months to 5 years old, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Some ages are offered two-, three- or four-day options, and Blair Road Preschool also offers a transitional kin-dergarten program, five days a week.
Find more information about Blair Road Pre-school and its curriculum at ww.blairroadumc.org under the “kids” and “preschool” links. Blair Road Preschool is located at 9135 Blair Road.
HELP Center names new executive director
MATTHEWS – The Matthews HELP Cen-ter will soon have a new leader.
The nonprofit’s board of directors recently announced its appointment of Kaye McHan as the HELP Center’s new executive director.
“Kaye has a very impressive background in nonprofit management, partnership develop-ment and fundraising – all critical skills our organization needs as we continue to help our neighbors here in Matthews,” the nonprofit said in a news release.
McHan will officially take office at the HELP Center on Monday, Feb. 9.
Find more information about the nonprofit at www.matthewshelpcenter.org.
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Crime Blotter
News
The following people were arrested in Matthews, according to the Matthews Police Department.
• Jacinda Sabricia Cofer, Econo Lodge, 1938 Moore Road: Prostitution; possession of drug paraphernalia; order for arrest. Jan. 27
• David John Adams, 1200 block of East John Street: Driving while impaired. Jan. 29
• Oliver Anthony Marson, 2100 block of Dunnwood Hills Drive: Simple possession of mari-juana; possession of drug paraphernalia. Jan. 29
• Eric Leonard Grampus, 10500 block of Northeast Parkway: Simple possession of mari-juana; possession or drug paraphernalia. Jan. 29
• Lionel Victorino Castro, 10200 block of East Independence Boulevard: No operator’s license; revoked registration plate. Jan 29
• Richard Thomas Long, 600 block of Sam Newell Road: Driving while impaired. Jan. 29
• Desi Ernesto Zerpa, 11200 block of East Independence Boulevard: Expired registration; fictitious registration plate. Jan. 30
• Joshuale Matthew-Vincent Carter, 1200 block of Matthews-Mint Hill Road: Driving while impaired. Jan. 31
The following crimes were reported in Mat-thews between Jan. 26 and Feb. 1, according to the Matthews Police Department.
Home/Business Break-Ins• 2900 block of Matthews-Mint Hill Road:
Unk double barrel shotguns, Vizio TV, Colt .22 rifle, Time Warner cable box, wooden bowl, horse lamp and custom trophy, worth $2,861 total, when home broken into, causing $200 in damage to door, lock and door frame. Jan. 28
Vehicle Break-Ins• Picadeli, 1600 Matthews-Mint Hill Road:
Various small hand tools and music CDs, worth $50 total, stolen when vehicle broken into, causing $250 in damage to driver’s door window. Jan. 27
• Rack Em Pub & Billiards, 1898 Windsor Square Drive, suite A: Multiple vehicles broken into; Xbox game system and “Dying Light” game stolen. Jan. 27
• Comfort Inn, 9701 E. Independence Blvd.: $400 in damage to truck door lock in vehicle break-in; nothing listed as stolen. Jan. 28
• Comfort Inn, 9701 E. Independence Blvd.: Motorola Android cellphone, leather briefcase-type bag and contents and passport, worth $530 total, stolen when vehicle broken into, causing $500 in damage to truck door lock. Jan. 28
• Kohl’s Department Stores, 9617 E. Inde-pendence Blvd.: $15 stolen when vehicle broken into, causing $200 in damage to driver’s side rear window. Jan. 28
• Elevation Church, 11416 E. Independence Blvd.: $20 stolen when vehicle broken into, caus-ing $250 in damage to vehicle window. Jan. 28
• 400 block of Courtney Lane: Notary stamp/seal and money pouch, worth $55 total, stolen when vehicle broken into. Jan. 29
• 11400 block of East Independence Boulevard:
$250 in damage to driver’s door side window in vehicle break-in; nothing listed as stolen. Jan. 30
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 10408 E. Indepen-dence Blvd.: $250 purse stolen when vehicle broken into, causing $350 in damage to passenger side window. Jan. 30
• Showmars, 9704 E. Independence Blvd.: DVDs and piece of rosary beads, worth $39 total, stolen when vehicle broke into, causing $200 in damage to rear window. Jan. 31
• Tilted Kilt, 1625 Windsor Square Drive: $400 silver iPod classic stolen when vehicle broken into, causing $250 in damage to passenger door win-dow. Jan. 31
• 10000 block of East Independence Boule-vard: $200 Charlotte Fire Department winter jacket stolen when vehicle broken into, causing $200 in damage to rear right passenger window. Jan. 31
Property Theft• Neighborhood Feed & Tack, 1900 Moore
Road: $100 in wooden pallets stolen. Jan. 26• 2600 block of Lakeview Circle: Trail camera
and hunting blind, worth $525 total, stolen. Jan. 26
• Keffer Hyundai, 9010 E. Independence Blvd.: Three license plates, worth $15 total, stolen. Jan. 27
• Ashley Creek Home Owners Association, 1599 Ashley Creek Drive: Electrical transformer and landscaping decorative lighting, worth $375 total, stolen. Jan. 28
• Radio Shack, 11500 E. Independence Blvd.: $99.99 Motorola computer stolen. Jan. 29
• 9500 block of Northeast Court: $25 North
Carolina license plate stolen from vehicle. Jan. 29• 14200 block of High Echelon Drive: $62.25
in three-fourths round copper pipes, at 25 pounds, stolen. Jan. 30
• Mi Barrio Halal Latin Grill, 7308 E. Independence Blvd., suite E – 95.5
• Pizza Hut, 9229-H Lawyers Road – 99
• Wilco Hess, 13354 Albemarle Road – 95
About the grades...Restaurants are given grades of A
for scoring at least 90 percent, B for 80 to 89 percent and C for 70 to 79 percent. The state revokes permits for restaurants that score below 70 percent. Restaurants are no longer eligible for two bonus points if an employee has completed a food service sanitation program within three years. Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly places restaurants that receive a score lower than 94, indicating a grade of A- or below, in the “lowest scores” category, with specific violations listed. Find more details on Mecklenburg County restaurants at the health department's website, http://Mecklenburg.digitalhealthdepartment.com/.
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 9www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Page 10 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
News
peak hours on weekdays. Wesley Chapel resident Tim McCulla
recently adressed the issue in an open letter to state officials, asking them to immediately open the lanes to resolve traffic issues that still plague the inter-state.
In the letter, addressed to N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and U.S. Sens. Thom Thillis and Sen. Richard Burr, McCulla called on state officials to open the completed lanes on I-485, cancel future plans to make them toll lanes and create a plan to relieve traffic leading to the southeast-ern part of Mecklenburg County, into Matthews, Mint Hill and Union County, where growth has been most rapid.
“To leave that existing lane unused for years will certainly cause further frus-tration, which will translate into politi-cal problems for those who choose not to perceive this (as) an issue,” McCulla wrote.
McCulla added he hoped the state representatives would “immediately act upon the will of the people and not the dictates of an inept organization like the NCDOT.”
Federal laws, however, restrict the options for highways built with federal money. These highways are not allowed to switch a regular lane to a toll lane,
meaning the NCDOT could not legally open the lane for regular use now and convert it to a toll lane when that time comes.
Another obstacle to McCulla’s request lies in the bottleneck that already exists on the outer loop of I-485 at Rea Road, where the interstate returns to a two-lane highway. Opening the fourth lane could clog traffic further at the Rea Road exit, creating a mess for drivers trying to reach their Matthews and Mint Hill homes during rush hour.
In a release addressing residents’ con-cerns, the NCDOT said McCrory and NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata will meet with local leaders and transportation officials “to consider all options” for the southwestern section of I-485.
“I am committed to having our team sit down with local leaders as soon as possible to discuss solutions for inade-quate design, infrastructure and funding issues that were created years ago, which have been causing serious traffic con-gestion on I-485,” McCrory said in the release. “We are open to reviewing and considering all viable options.”
One option, raised by Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter in January, would be to turn the existing lane into a carpool lane until it is ready to be used as a toll lane. This action would require a pro-cess of studies and public meetings, and is presumably one of the options to be
discussed between state and local offi-cials in the coming months.
The toll lane is not expected to open until the next I-485 widening project is finished. This project aims to continue the widening that was finished in Decem-ber with an extra lane on each side of I-485 between Rea Road and U.S. 74.
According to NCDOT spokesperson Warren Cooksey, that project has been approved for funding through the State Transportation Improvement Program, a new prioritization process used by the NCDOT. If the board of directors approves the project during a vote in June, it is scheduled to receive funding beginning in 2017 and ending in 2020.
When that project is finished, the
NCDOT can begin opening the toll lanes.
The schedule for the next leg of I-485 is subject to change, depending on avail-ability of funds, Cooksey said.
McCulla, who travels to Ballantyne and the Charlotte Douglas International Airport for work by the southern stretch of I-485, believes the efforts to widen the highway are coming too late and will continue to come up short as the region grows.
“In five years, who knows what the growth is going to look like,” he said. “… Unless someone waves a magic wand and stops people from moving here, expan-sion will have to be done … How could you not open the lane up now?”
A proposed plan to continue expanding I-485 from Rea Road to U.S. 74 is projected to begin construction in 2017. MMHW file photo
I-485(continued from page 1)
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 11www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
News
Road: $300 in damage to automobile tire. Jan. 29• 9200 block of East Independence Boulevard:
$200 in damage to vehicle window in vandalism incident.
Other• Tassels Cabaret, 12400 E. Independence
Blvd.: Simple physical assault. Jan. 26• 2000 block of CPCC Lane: Assault with a
deadly weapon. Jan. 27• 800 block of East Charles Street: Communi-
cating threats. Jan. 27• Tassels Cabaret, 12400 E. Independence
The following people were arrested in Mint Hill, according to the Mint Hill Police Depart-ment.
• Matthew Christopher Tanner, 6800 block of Fenning Drive: Embezzlement (warrant for arrest). Jan. 27
• Nicholas Jason Colepaugh, Queen’s Grant High School, 10323 Idlewild Road: Simple assault; carrying a weapon (knife) on school cam-pus. Jan. 30
• Darius Joshua Little, 7100 bock of Stillwell Road: Order for arrest (possession with intent to sell or distribute marijuana); order for arrest (pos-session of controlled substance on prison or jail campus). Jan. 30
• Cory Polen, 7100 block of Stillwell Road: Fictitious tag; possession of paraphernalia. Jan. 31
• Kevin Ferguson, 5500 block of Beaver Dam Lane: Order for arrest (probation violation); drug violations – equipment/paraphernalia. Feb. 2
• Juliet Desiree Queen, 5500 block of Bea-ver Dam Lane: Possession of paraphernalia. Feb. 2
• Jeffrey Scott Wade, 5500 block of Beaver Dam Lane: Possession of paraphernalia. Feb. 2
The following crimes were reported in Mint Hill between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, according to the Mint Hill Police Department.
Vehicle Break-Ins• 9600 block of Fir Knoll Road: CDs and F&M
• 9600 block of Heartwood Lane: Two machetes, Tom Tom GPS and miscellaneous car chargers, worth $465 total, stolen when vehicle broken into. Jan. 29
• 5900 block of Oak Drive: $500 in damage to car hood in vandalism incident. Feb. 1
Property Theft• 13800 block of Lawyers Road: $200 trail
camera stolen. Jan. 27
Drugs• 7100 block of Stillwell Road: Possession of a
schedule II substance (cocaine); drug violations – equipment/paraphernalia; fictitious tag. Jan. 30
Vandalism/Hit-and-Run• 3800 block of Martele Drive: $550 total in
graffiti damage to brick home and grill top. Jan. 29• 9500 block of Hannon Road: $50 in damage
to vehicle in hit-and-run. Jan. 30
Other• 6000 block of Beaver Dam Lane: Common
law robbery ($10 small coin purse and $40 stolen); assault on a female. Jan. 27
• 6500 block of Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road: Assault on a female; simple assault. Feb. 1
• Queen’s Grant High School, 10323 Idlewild Road: Communicating threats. Feb. 2
Crime Blotter(continued from page 7)
safely evacuated the home before firefighters arrived.
The scene was a blazing inferno by the time firefighters arrived five minutes later.
“The house was well involved with fire upon our arrival,” John Phillips, deputy chief with the Mint Hill Volunteer Fire Depart-ment, said. “I would say it was an approxi-mately 4,000-square-foot home, with prob-ably 75 percent involvement with fire upon our arrival.”
The fire likely started in the garage and spread to the attic before reaching the upstairs level of the two-story home, Phillips said. The flames caused a natural gas-related explosion shortly after the family evacuated.
Though the fire was “pretty much contained in the attic and upstairs of the home,” Phillips said, the home was not safe for firefighters to enter. They began by extinguishing the flames from outside of the house before entering the building to search for small, hidden fires.
“We probably had the bulk of the fire knocked down in 30 to 45 minutes, to the point we call ‘control time,’ where … the fire is not going to grow anymore,” Phillips said.
As they searched for hidden fires, firefight-ers heard a faint “meow” and subsequently discovered the family cat hiding in the wall in the downstairs laundry room. Phillips said the cat had a few burns on its body and was given oxygen after being rescued, but is expected to recover.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading and, with the exception of some heat-related damage to the vinyl siding of the home next door, the fire was “pretty much contained to (the family of five’s) prop-erty,” Phillips said.
The Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal’s Office did not return calls by Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly’s press deadline regarding the investigation into the cause of the fire.
A GoFundMe.com account has been set up to raise money for the family. Find more information, including how you can help, at www.gofundme.com/thomasfamilyfund.
Mint Hill fire(continued from page 1)
Page 12 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Education
Independence senior seeks to bring books to Africaby Courtney Schultz
MINT HILL – Independence High School senior Rita Yosief plans to help allevi-ate illiteracy in east Africa, one book drive at a time.
Rita is hosting a book drive through the nonprofit The African Library Project (ALP) to collect books for three libraries in Malawi, Swaziland and Ghana.
The Independence student was intro-duced to ALP after her older sister com-pleted a book drive for the nonprofit during her senior year. During her own sophomore year, Rita knew she wanted to find a way to give back on her own.
“We have service organizations at my school, but I wanted to have my own initia-tive and be in charge on my own,” Rita said.
Her parents, who have always emphasized reading, emigrated from Eritrea, an east Afri-can country that is now a part of Ethiopia.
“My whole family is just huge readers,” Rita said.
She visited her family in Africa and saw they did not have any libraries and loved the few books she brought with her.
“They just read all the books I had, cover to cover,” she said.
She knew ALP was the right project for her and, last year, individually organized a book drive to send books to rural African
areas with under-stocked libraries or, in some cases, no libraries at all.
Rita said she had “a really good school behind” her and was able to connect with community members to complete last year’s project.
For last year’s project, Rita donated1,000 gently used books and $500 to open a pri-mary library for Our Lady of Guadalupe Primary School in Lunsar, Sierra Leone. She enjoyed meeting members of the com-munity and connecting with her neighbors through the drive, Rita said.
The senior felt last year’s project was a success, but set a loftier goal this year – she plans to collect 5,000 books to fill three libraries.
Despite the gap from the previous year, Rita isn’t concerned about not reaching her goal, citing she’s already collected one-fourth of the books needed.
The areas where the books will be sent are “mixed literate,” so some parents don’t emphasize education in their homes, Rita said. She hopes the books will give children access to something beyond their own world and give them the chance to connect with other countries.
“This is their access to another world. They have the chance to see something else and experience something else,” Rita said.
Rita sees books as opportunities for children to learn, grow and realize their
potential. “I firmly believe a book is the best kind of
gift you can give anyone,” she said. “Whether you’re here or in Africa, whether you’re wealthy or poor, a book is so important.
“Something like a book is so simple but so necessary for these children. Somebody who is young will realize that education is impor-tant (through receiving the book).”
ALP has collected books for rural areas for more than 10 years with the hope of bring-ing literacy to students in need.
“When I first started this project, it was clear how absolutely life-changing it would be for African children. I have since come
to realize that the benefit is just as dramatic for children who participate here by running book drives and donating their books,” Chris Bradshaw, ALP founder, said in a news release.
Rita urges community members to donate books for elementary-aged children to the drive. She will send her first book delivery in early March, and all donations have to be received by May.
People can drop off donations in the office of Independence High School, located at 1967 Patriot Drive. Email Rita at [email protected] for more information.
Independence High School senior Rita Yosief is collecting books for The African Library Project. Photo courtesy of Rita Yosief
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 13www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Education
Newly-named superintendent addresses ‘state of schools’
Newly appointed Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Ann Clark shared “moments” regarding the district’s strategic plan during the annual “State of Our Schools” on Jan. 29 at East Mecklenburg High School.
Clark, in her first public appearance as CMS’s new leader, discussed in her address, “This is Our Moment,” how well the district has carried out “Strategic Plan 2018: For a Better Tomorrow.” The plan was developed in 2013 by former superintendent Dr. Heath Morrison, and Clark discussed how the dis-trict plans to continue performing the plan.
“Education cannot be accomplished in a single day, single test or single year – it’s a life-long journey,” Clark said.
Clark discussed the continued increase in the district’s test scores, includ-ing gains in pro-ficiency, rang-ing from nine to 18 points; an increased gradu-ation rate that is higher than Wake County, with more than half of the district’s high
schools boasting a graduation rate higher than 90 percent; and top marks in the 2013 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for fourth- and eighth-grade stu-dents. The NAEP reported CMS fourth- and eighth-graders had the highest scores in math and second highest scores in reading among 21 cities.
“(However), we have much more work to do to deliver college-ready students,” Clark said.
The superintendent emphasized, during her address, increasing educational and career-oriented opportunities, supporting passionate teachers and developing literacy through a new performance framework.
Greater opportunitiesCMS has created more access to rigorous
courses for high school students, with 67 per-cent more students taking Advanced Place-ment (AP) courses, which provides an oppor-tunity to earn college credit.
Clark said the district is still making progress and wants to continue to grant more access.
The superintendent also wants to develop partnerships with companies that are “tailored to CMS” to create the opportunity to have its own pipeline and offer career-oriented oppor-tunities for students.
The district has opened specific career-ori-ented “academies” with the National Academy Foundation this year, such as the Academy of Health Sciences at Butler High School and the Academy of Engineering at Independence High School. Both programs make connec-tions with professionals in their respective
fields and require career-focused internships. Mark Rohlinger, plant technical director at
Bosch Rexroth, said his company discovered it wasn’t finding the skill sets it needed to fulfill necessary positions, so they worked collabora-tively with CMS to create a CNC (computer numerical control)-focused machine shop in high schools to teach students those skills with hands-on access.
“We wanted to develop those people in our own background,” Rohlinger said.
Through the program, Bosch Rexroth also invested in hiring interns and apprenticeship students within the company.
Clark hopes to continue partnering with companies to help make “real world” connec-tions between the classroom and workforce.
Keeping ‘passionate’ teachers in the classroom
The district also plans to expand teacher pay and roles through an opportunity cul-ture model that allows teachers who have the desire to stay in the classroom, to advance within their career with increased pay, along with the opportunity to reach more students.
CMS saw success with the model in Proj-ect L.I.F.T., a CMS learning community that reaches traditionally poor-performing schools with the goal of recruiting, teaching and retaining quality teachers, said Katie Morris, chair of The Belk Foundation, which funded the new model.
The school district plans to extend the model across the district to 17 other schools outside of Project L.I.F.T. and “allow excep-tional teachers to stay in the classroom,” Mor-ris added.
“I think everyone would agree that we want to keep teachers in the classroom and increase their pay,” Morris said. “These are things we want to see happen.”
‘North Star’ of performanceClark said she considers literacy as the
“North Star” of success in schools, including listening, writing and reading across all sub-jects. Although the district saw more students reading on grade level, she said there is still work to be done.
Administration has created a school per-formance framework Clark hopes will help develop steps to further CMS’s work in liter-acy, as well as academia as a whole.
The performance framework determines the criteria in which the district will evaluate schools based on: academic proficiency; stu-dent growth; providing academic assistance to students who need it; closing achievement gaps; access to rigorous courses; making stu-dents college and career ready; having stu-dents graduate in four years; and creating a safe, engaging culture at every school.
“We are committed to doing our jobs with pride and with excellence that our kids deserve and the community rightfully expects,” Clark said.
(see Ann Clark on page 14)
Ann Clark
Page 14 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Education
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly
Education News & Notes
Area school moves to Matthews MATTHEWS – The Shands
School, a non-profit, independent school will move into a new facility at 1315 Matthews-Mint Hill Road in Matthews on Friday, Feb. 6.
Shands focuses on strengthening student skills in academics, social interactions, leadership roles and environmental connections, accord-ing to the school’s website.
The school is currently accepting applications for the 2015-16 school year. Applicants are asked to print and complete the application form at shandsschool.org/images/StudentApplication.pdf, and return it to the school with a $75 application fee. The application packet also should include school records for the current and previous years, school report cards and any psycho-education or neuro-psychological assessment conducted, if applicable.
Parents also will need to have an individual learning assessment at Shands School, according to the school’s website. This costs $170 and will take approximately 1.5
hours to complete. An open house will be announced
later this month. Visit www.shandsschool.org or
contact school director Liz Morris at [email protected] or 704-321-5705 for more information.
Queen’s Grant kindergarteners celebrate 100th day of school
MINT HILL – Queen’s Grant Community School kindergarten students celebrated the 100th day of school on Monday, Feb. 2, with various activities.
Students participated in a 100th day scavenger hunt, tried to see if 100 licks could help them reach the center of a blow pop, counted their snacks to 100, wore 100th day crowns and sunglasses, wrote about what they would do with $100 and wore T-shirts with 100 items on them, according to a news release.
“This annual event is a kindergar-ten favorite and always a good time,” read the release.
Queen’s Grant Community School is located at 6400 Matthews-Mint Hill Road.
Send education news items to [email protected]. Photo submissions are welcome.
Familiar face in leadershipThe Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Edu-
cation voted at its Jan. 27 meeting to appoint Clark as the first female CMS superinten-dent.
Clark will serve as superintendent through July 2016, when she plans to retire. The tim-ing gives the board more time to conduct a comprehensive search for her successor, according to a news release.
“I was excited to explore new opportunities to continue to serve the educational needs of our community,” Clark said in a news release. “I made the personal decision to postpone my announcement once Dr. Morrison resigned. The timing was no longer right. I care too much about CMS to leave during such a criti-cal time of leadership transition.”
Clark fills a vacancy created by Morrison’s resignation in November 2014, after an inves-tigation of his behavior ignited a firestorm. She took over superintendent duties after his departure.
“Ann is a strong CMS and public education advocate, and I am excited about the leader-ship she will provide over the next year and a half,” board of education chair Mary McCray said in the release. “We are making great strides as a district, and she brings the stability we need to maintain our momentum.”
Clark brings more than three decades of institutional knowledge and educational
experience – including at the elementary, middle and high school levels – to her new role. She joined the district in 1983 as a teacher of behaviorally and emotionally handicapped children at Devonshire Elemen-tary School. After five years in the classroom, she moved into administration as assistant principal at Montclaire Elementary School in 1987. She then had stints as principal at Shamrock Gardens Elementary and Alexan-der Graham Middle schools, and became the first principal of Vance High School in 1996. She subsequently took on a greater role in CMS and became assistant superintendent for high school curriculum and instruction, then regional superintendent for high schools and associate superintendent of education services.
“Teaching every child effectively is the responsibility and the privilege of public edu-cation,” Clark said in the release.
As superintendent, Clark will receive a base salary of $262,000. She also will receive $4,971 for the additional responsibilities she assumed from November 2014 to January 2015, according to the release.
“I promise you I’m bringing my best head and my heart to the job,” Clark said.
The current plan for Clark’s successor was laid out at the Board’s meeting:
• Feb. 19: Special board of education meet-ing to discuss search process
• March to April 2015: Additional meetings to further refine the search process
• May 2015 to April 2016: Conduct a search and choose next superintendent
Ann Clark(continued from page 13)
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 15www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Page 16 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
The car ended up coming to our house. We towed it home and began working on it. One of my favorite memories was the day we painted it with 24 cans of aerosol paint. There was a cloud of blue smoke coming out of my garage. We had a blast!
Several years later, we were at an auto show. The three of us found a pair of rims that would fit the Mus-tang. Even though they needed work, we bought them. Unfortunately, they ended up sitting in the shed for five years.
Two weeks before Christmas that year, I received a call from my oldest son, who asked, “Where is the pres-sure washer?” (It’s never good when they won’t tell you why.) For three days, they scrubbed, sanded and stripped those rims, and then they painted them. They presented them to me on Christmas Day. I was speech-less – they looked fabulous.
A few days later, I was at the tire store where my son works. He arranged to have new tires mounted on the rims. He installed them on the car and we
took it for a test drive. It was not a surprise when the car rode much more smoothly on those new tires than it had on tires that were 16 years old. The car looked amazing!
I sent him a text saying, “I just want you to know how much I love you – not for the rims. Yes, that is an incred-ible gift. I am deeply touched by the thought and effort that went into it. I just love you because I do.”
Silence – it was the one text he never replied to.
Yes, I know this is the time of year to tell that special person in your life, “I love you.” Do that. Also, remem-ber your children, regardless of their age, need to hear those same special words.
I’ll be back in two weeks. Until then, live well my friend.
Rev. Tony Marciano is the Executive Director of the Charlotte Rescue Mission. He is available to speak to your group. Visit www.charlotterescuemission.org for more information.
While having family dinner, my daughter’s boyfriend announced that Valentine’s Day was driven by Hall-mark so they could sell greet-ing cards and make money.
He went on to say women don’t want flowers and candy, to which my wife replied, “They always like diamonds.” The room went silent. He told her not to be so obvious. Hmmmm – he’s not getting it.
I have two camels and a goat in my backyard for my daughter’s dowry. If he asks her to marry him, I’ll throw in the sheep, as well. He didn’t bite on my offer. It’s cute watching them call each other names and say, “I love you.” There are others in your house who
need to hear those words, “I love you.” But first, let me start with a story.
When my sons were in high school, I needed to come up with something to help us bond. Not being an athlete, it wasn’t going to be any sport that involved a ball. Football, basketball and baseball were out. I tried to intro-duce them to model airplanes, but they didn’t have the patience to learn to fly them. We tried video games, but I don’t have the eye/hand coordina-tion. They were getting older, and I needed something – fast.
I have always loved cars. Having been a commuter student in college, I learned to repair my own car so I could travel to and from school. It was a classic Mustang. I think I spent more time under the hood than in the books. Anyway, I graduated college while learning to repair cars.
Fast forward many years later. We were shopping on eBay for a Mustang and found one. The owner’s wife had told her husband, “Either the car goes or I go, but we’re both not staying.”
Someone else needs to hear the words,
“I Love You”
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 17www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Hope Christian Church to host eight-week women’s Bible study
MINT HILL – Hope Christian Church is launching a new Bible study for women focusing on the Book of James.
The eight-week study will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m. and will con-tinue to meet on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. for the subsequent seven weeks.
The Bible study, “James” by Beth Moore, will be the centerpiece for the study. Workbooks are available at the Lifeway Christian bookstores in Pineville and Concord, as well as online, the church said in an announcement. Visit www.hopechurchminthill.com or email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.
Hope Christian Church is located at 11231 Lawyers Road.
Valentine’s Dinner Date Night at Matthews UMC
MATTHEWS – The Couples in Christ Marriage Ministry at Matthews United Methodist Church will host a Valentine’s Dinner Date Night on Feb. 14, a Saturday, at 6:30 p.m.
This “fun, interactive” program for couples will feature Jennie Hopper, a licensed therapist in marriage and family counseling. Child care will be available, but parents must request it in advance by emailing [email protected]. Find more information and purchase tickets at www.matthewsumc.org.
Matthews UMC is located at 801 S. Trade St.
Weekly Celebrate Recovery meetings at Team Church
MATTHEWS – Team Church hosts weekly Celebrate Recovery meetings every Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.
The Christian-based recovery program is modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous and is open to anyone in the community facing an type of addiction or hardship.
The program utilizes eight Biblical prin-ciples based on the Beatitudes, found in Mat-thew 5:3-12.
“Celebrate Recovery is a Biblical and bal-anced program that helps us overcome our hurts, hang-ups and habits. It is based on the actual words of Jesus … (and) shows the lov-ing power of Jesus Christ through a recovery process,” the church said in an announce-ment.
The church’s next Celebrate Recovery meeting is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6. A fel-lowship time takes place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the meeting at 7 p.m. Find more information at www.teamchurch.com, or call 704-469-5642.
Team Church is located at 2301 Stevens Mill Road.
Churches unite for annual serviceMATTHEWS – Five area churches recently
participated in the fifth annual Prayer Service for Christian Unity.
The service was held Jan. 22 at Joy Church in Matthews, and leaders and members of four other churches – God Cannot Lie Ministries, Morning Star Lutheran Church, Christian Faith Assembly and St. John Neu-mann Catholic Church – attended.
This year’s event was organized by Joy Church’s Rev. McLean Faw and music direc-tor Rick Lapinsky.
Dr. Leon Threatt, pastor of Christian Faith Assembly, delivered a sermon focusing on unity, incorporating recent events involving police officers, race relations and peace across the U.S., according to a news release.
The service also featured praise and wor-ship from members of all five churches’ music ministries. A potluck dinner was held in the church’s community center prior to the ser-vice. Each participating minister offered a different prayer “with the intent of uniting Christians from every denomination,” the release said.
“Too often, people are busy with their own agendas and miss opportunities to really see the folks that are right next to us or maybe a bit down the street,” Rev. John Mouritsen, of Morning Star Lutheran, said in the release. “… The Unity Prayer Service was a welcome reminder of the joy that comes when we make the effort to go beyond our own walls and routines.”
Send faith news items to [email protected]. Announcements should be sent two weeks in advance.
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly
faith & Religion News & Notes
Faith
Front row: (from left) Roger Guinn; Dr. Leon Threatt, of Christian Faith Assembly; Shea Barja, of St. John Neumann Catholic Church; and Rev. Anthony Griffith, of God Cannot Lie Minis-tries. Back row: (From left) Rev. McLean Faw, of Joy Church; Rev. John Mouritsen, of Morning Star Lutheran Church; Rev. Ed Crotty, of Morning Star Lutheran Church; Deacon Joe Denzler, of St. John Neumann Catholic Church; and Father Patrick Hoare, senior pastor of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Noto and Marty Schneider
Missed Paper?
Page 18 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Summer Camp Guide
Snow QueenAge group: 7 to 14 years old
June 15 to 1910 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Performance: June 19 at 3 p.m.
Campers will recreate a play based on the Hans Christian Anderson story “The Snow
Queen,” which inspired the story for the hit 2013 film, “Frozen.”
Cost: $275
Create a Mystery OR Whodunit?Age group: 8 to 14 years old
June 22 to 26 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Performance: June 26 at 3 p.m.
Working together, campers will write, rehearse and perform their own mystery in
just one week.
Cost: $275
Much Ado About
ShakespeareAge group: 11 to 17 years old
July 13 to July 17 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Performance: July 17 at 3 p.m.
Think Shakespeare’s plays are too archaic to be fun? Think
again. Campers will modernize
scenes from Shakespeare’s most well-known plays and will even learn stage
fighting.
Cost: $275
The HobbitAge group: 9 to 17 years old
July 20 to 24 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Performance: July 24 at 3 p.m.
Kids and teens in this camp will select and perform an action-packed part of
J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous book-turned-movie franchise.
Cost: $275
2015MATTHEWS – The verdict is out from
Punxsutawney Phil. The famous groundhog saw his shadow Monday, signaling another six weeks of winter. While some kids might be hoping for snow, others are already dreaming of the warmer temperatures of
spring and summer. If your children aren’t counting down the days until summer break yet, they will be if you sign them up for one of the many summer camps featured in our 2015 guide. This week’s round of camps is from Matthews Playhouse of the Per-forming Arts. The local non-profit theater organization holds all sorts of drama-based camps for all ages and dates. A one-time
registration fee of $25 is required which will include a T-shirt for the camper.
Matthews Playhouse is located at 100 McDowell St. E. in Matthews. Visit www.matthewsplayhouse.com to register. Mat-thews-Mint Hill Weekly’s summer camp guide is a biweekly feature through April 17.
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 19www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Summer Camp Guide
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Age group: 8 to 14 years old Aug. 10 to 14
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Performance: Aug. 14 at 3 p.m.
Young actors will bring the world of Narnia to life in this performance based upon
the most famous novel of C.S.Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia” series.
Cost: $275
Maleficent and the Sleeping Beauty
Age group: 7 to 14 years old July 6 to 10
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Performance: July 10 at 2 p.m.
The fairy tale will be brought to life as campers learn and perform a show full of
acting, singing and dancing.
Cost: $300
Peter Pan and WendyAge group: 5 to 8 years old
July 6 to 10 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Performance: July 10 at 12 p.m.
Young campers will sing, dance and rehearse to put on a performance about the
adventures of Neverland.
Cost: $150
Into the Woods (Session One)Age group: 9 to 17 years old
July 20 to 24
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Performance: July 24 at 2 p.m.
Campers will create their own version of the hit musical turned movie “Into the Woods” in a week’s time while learning and performing
the original songs.
Cost: $300
Broadway Boot CampAge group: 10 to 17 years old
July 27 to 31 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Performance: July 31 at 7 p.m.
This Boot Camp is for serious campers only – those who are serious about musical theater, that is. Directors, choreographers
and music directors in the industry will guide campers as they create and perform a
musical revue in only 25 hours.
Cost: $325
Summer Camp Guide continues on page 21...
Summer Camp Guide (continued)
A past Matthews Playhouse production of “Peter Pan.” Photo courtesy of Matthews Playhouse Facebook page
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Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 21www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Summer Camp Guide
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Age group: 7 to 17 years old June 15 to 26
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Performance: June 26 at 2 p.m.
In this two-week-long camp, kids and teens will use the real
Wonderful Wizard of Oz set and props on stage as they act out a
junior version of the musical.
Cost: $475
Paddington Bear and the 3 Bears
Age group: 4 to 6 years old June 8 to 12
9:15 to 11:45 a.m.
Very young campers will act out bear stories, learn the Three
Bears Rap and make crafts and props to go along with their
stories. Corduroy, Little Bear and Pooh Bear also will make a visit.
Cost: $135
Diary of a Wimpy KidAge group: 7 to 11 years old
June 22 to 26 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Kids will act out scenes from the popular “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series and create a script based on the stories. Campers
also will spend time honing their
comic-drawing skills, participate in scavenger hunts and solve
puzzles.
Cost: $135
Hunger Games / Mockingjay
Age group: 10 to 17 years old July 6 to July 10
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Campers will re-enact scenes from this popular film and
book series after dividing into districts and preparing to battle.
The week will culminate in a final competition. Campers
should wear closed-toe shoes, as much of the time will be spent
outdoors on the Greenway.
Cost: $275
American Girl DollAge group: 5 to 10 years old
July 13 to July 17 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Girls can time travel with their
favorite American Girl dolls. Campers will act out stories, learn dances, sing music and create crafts from each era associated with the Grace,
Rebecca and Addy dolls. The week will close with a special
celebration.
Cost: $135
Summer Camp Guide (continued)
A past Matthews Playhouse production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Photo courtesy of Matthews Playhouse Facebook page
Page 22 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Calendar
2.5.15Thursday
7:30 to 9:30 p.m.Groovers Grovers Square Dance Club
This new square dancing club will host its first square dance class, which is open to the public. Call 704-576-0318 for more information.
Baker Place, 2843 Williams Road, Matthews
2.5.15Thursday
9:30 to 11 a.m.Moms Managing Media seminar
Moms Managing Media, a group of local moms who “promote balancing technology and childhood in their homes,” is offering monthly parent seminars. February’s seminar will focus on “How Much Do You Really Know about Social Media?” This meeting will focus on texting, the latest phone applications and parental controls, according to a news release. The meetings are free and open to the public, and child care is provided. Email [email protected] for more
information.
Fireplace Room, Covenant Day School, 800 Fullwood Ave., Matthews
2.7.15Saturday
7 to 10:30 p.m.Middle School Madness/Saturday
Night @ Siskey
Middle school kids are invited to join the Siskey YMCA for a “fun and high-energy” middle school party. The event will include music, dancing,
hoops, contests, video games, basketball, indoor soccer, gaming tournaments, dodgeball, foosball, ping-pong, concessions and more. This
event takes place on the first Saturday night of every month. Tickets are $9 and can be purchased at the door. Concessions will be for sale in addition to admission cost. Contact Andrew Reinken at 704-716-4222
Local Boy Scouts from the Mecklenburg County Council of the Boy Scouts of America will go door-to-door throughout Mecklenburg County, collecting canned goods for Loaves & Fishes, a Charlotte-area nonprofit that provides
food to families in need. Scouts will distribute bags throughout the week leading up to Feb. 7, a Saturday. Residents can fill the bags with nonperishables and leave them outside their home for the Scouts to pick up on Feb. 7. People also can visit area Harris Teeters from Feb. 7 to 15 and place donations in food collection barrels located at the stores. Find
more information at www.loavesandfishes.org.
2.10.15Tuesday
4 to 5 p.m.Story Explorers: Book Nuts
This program is for children 5 to 11 years old and offers the opportunity to explore books and stories “in creative ways” through interactive
activities incorporating math, science, games and more. Registration is required. Find more information and register online at www.cmlibrary.
org.
Matthews Library, 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews
2.10.15Tuesday
6:30 p.m.Matthews Artists Guild’s monthly
meeting
The Matthews Artists Guild will host its monthly meeting, which gives area artists a chance to connect and learn from guest presenters. This month’s featured artist, Paul Keysar, will give a demonstration called
“Night Paintings.” The demonstration will cover how to take photos at night and interpret the photos to create a night painting. The meeting is
free and open to the public.
McDowell Arts Center, 123 McDowell St., MatthewsSend your events to
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 23www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
Calendar
2.12.15Thursday
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Community blood drive
As part of the annual Pints for Pounds campaign, the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is donating seven pounds of food to the Charlotte-area Second Harvest Food Bank for each blood donation made in February. Central Piedmont
Community College is teaming up with CBCC to host a Pints for Pounds blood drive at the school’s Levine campus. Donors must be at least 16 years old and weight at least 120 pounds. Find more information and sign up to donate at www.cbcc.
Kids in fourth and fifth grades are invited to join the Siskey YMCA for a night of dancing, games,
prizes and hanging out with other kids their own age. The event will include a DJ, sporting tournaments, a moonbounce and karaoke. Admission costs $8, and concessions will be available for purchase at an additional cost.
Contact Andrew Reinken at 704-716-4222 or [email protected] for more
information.
Siskey YMCA, 3127 Weddington Road, Matthews
2.14.15Saturday
7 to 9 p.m.Art & Amore
The Tipsy Paintbrush will host the second annual Art & Amore fundraiser to benefit local nonprofit the Matthews Free Medical Clinic. Professionals will provide attendees step-by-step tips on how to paint a pre-selected piece of artwork on a
canvas to take home. Advanced registrations are required. Email [email protected] or call 704-412-2398 for more information or to reserve a seat.The Matthews Free Medical Clinic provides free medical care for low-income, uninsured or underinsured patients who live in Mecklenburg
and Union Counties. Find more information about the Free Clinic at www.matthewsfmc.org.
The Tipsy Paintbrush, 116B W. John St., Matthews
2.17.15Tuesday
6 to 7:30 p.m.Teen Art Club
This club gives attendees who are 12 to 18 years old a chance to exercise creativity and learn new skills in a group setting. Members of the young artists’ club will explore different media and techniques to make art to enhance the library. Call 704-416-5204 for more
information.
Mint Hill Library, 6840 Matthews-Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill
2.19.15Thursday
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Lunch & Learn Nonprofit
Educational Meeting
This meeting is intended to empower and educate nonprofits’ leaders and volunteers and will focus on recruiting, training, maintaining and keeping volunteers. The event costs $15, which includes
lunch and handouts. Find more information at www.jajnonprofitresource.com/events.
Casa Rita’s, 2797 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews
2.23.15Monday
Noon to 1 p.m. or 6 to 7 p.m.Strategies for Surviving
Cancer
As a cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event for patients, the Novant Health Matthews Medical Center is offering a support program for those diagnosed with the disease. “Strategies for Surviving” will teach cancer patients three effective coping strategies to deal with emotions, such as
anxiety, depression and fear of recurrence.
Matthews Medical Center, 1500 Matthews Township Pkwy., Matthews
Ongoing through 2.28.15Tuesday through Saturday
2 to 9 p.m.Chris Austin Fine Art
Photography
On Tuesdays through Saturdays, renowned Charlotte skyline photographer Chris Austin has certified some of his prints for a winter exhibit. Austin’s works are well known in the Charlotte area and include his limited
edition “Rainbow over Charlotte” and one of his newest releases, “Canyon Light.” Attendees must be 21 years
old or older, and admission is free.
Grape’s Wine Bar, 2233 Matthews Township Pkwy., suite G, Matthews
Page 24 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
”“
Sports
Hello, Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly readers. My name is Ben Doster and I am the new sports writer at Carolina Weekly Newspapers. I am very excited about the opportunity to cover local high school athletics in the Mat-thews, Mint Hill and south Charlotte area.
Sports have always been a significant part of my life, start-
ing with T-ball, watching games with my dad, playing high school football under the lights on a cool and
crisp October night, (I usually had a nice view from the bench) to covering ACC basketball and football.
I moved around often as a kid before my parents finally planted roots in Morganton, which is in the foothills of western North Carolina, between Hick-ory and Asheville. I attended East Burke High School and current Ardrey Kell football coach Adam Hast-ings was my position coach, while I played offensive line for the Cavaliers.
After I graduated from East Burke in 2007, I attended Western Piedmont Community College and began my career in sports media covering local high school sports for the Morganton News Herald. I found myself in Chapel Hill at the University of North Carolina two years later, studying journalism.
I honed my craft as a writer and reporter through my classes and great internships with the Durham Bulls, Inside Carolina and WCHL 1360 AM. After graduation, I accepted a job covering the Wake For-est Demon Deacons and North Carolina Tar Heels
for the Rivals.com and Yahoo! Sports network.Now, I get to jump back into the prep sports world.
I know this area is filled with great talent and tradi-tion, whether it was Independence’s unprecedented run of state championship crowns in football or the Curry brothers lighting it up at Charlotte Christian and many more great memories of teams and play-ers.
I look forward to covering the schools, athletes and coaches around Matthews and Mint Hill. If you see me on the diamond, by the court, gridiron or pitch don’t hesitate to stop and say hello.
Also, I’m open and eager to get your feedback, criti-cism and story ideas. This is your sports page, and I want to do the best job I can do reporting on the high school teams, student athletes and coaches in the Matthews, Mint Hill and south Charlotte area.
The best ways to reach me are by phone at (704) 849-2261 or e-mail at [email protected]. Follow me on Twitter @benddoster.
players from top to bottom and a great coaching staff.”
The Bulldogs suffered a tough blow to the ego on Feb. 3 after an unexpected four-point loss to Rocky River (10-12) – a team that’s only averaging 50 points per game this year compared to Butler’s 71.
But with two games left in confer-ence play, Lowery said his
team is focused on fin-
ishing the conference
strong and winning the tournament before they
look to playoffs. “The biggest thing we talk about
is continuing to practice and not get complacent,” Lowery said. “Every possession counts. In some games, we’ve been outscored 9-0 on a three or four minute stretch. We talk about how we can’t afford those momen-tary lapses anymore. That could be the game.”
The Bulldogs, who haven’t lost a
game at home all season, host Porter Ridge (9-11) on Feb. 6 before travel-ing to Independence (7-13) on Feb. 13 in their final game of the regular season.
First-year Bulldog coach Myron Lowery said it’s no mystery why his team is 19-3 on the season and 9-1 in conference play.
“It’s simple. We’ve got good play-ers,” he said.
Lowery said his team benefits from a deep roster and three guys averag-ing double-digit points.
Junior Raequan Scott is at the forefront of the Bulldogs success. The 5-foot-9 sharp-shooting guard is averaging a team-high 20.9 points per game with 4.4 assists and two steals, controlling the Bulldogs’ up-tempo offense. From behind the arc, he’s shooting 45 percent and doesn’t let his small stature get in the way of finding the basket. Scott hit seven 3-pointers and finished with 33 points in the Bulldogs win over Mallard Creek in their second game of the season.
“He can score so many different ways,” Lowery said. “He’s so difficult to guard and he’s been really effec-tive getting to the basket. He’s scor-ing different ways, getting steals and converting them and passing the ball. When you’re hitting outside shots and dishing it out to teammates, it makes you hard to guard. Plus, he has teammates that can score.”
One of those teammates is 6-foot junior Orlando Robinson. Robin-son scored a career-high 26 points on Jan. 27 in a 79-64 in over East Meck, shooting 65 percent from the floor and giving Scott some help in the backcourt. The duo has played
together since their days at Crest-dale Middle School and their chem-istry shows on the scoreboard.
Questions loomed over the fate of the Bulldog program when the season began in November after graduating all-conference standout and current Vanderbilt freshman Matthew Fisher-Davis (24 points, 14 rebounds) and Giavonni Mack, the current North Texas freshman who averaged 22 points, eight assists and five rebounds last season.
But Scott and Robinson had no problem filling those shoes and the Bulldogs haven’t dropped a game since Dec. 6. Factor in 6-foot-4 senior for-ward Arthur Labinow-icz (10.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) who scored a game-high 26 points in a 70-54 win over Myers Park on Jan. 30 and 6 - f o o t - 4 s o p h o -m o r e c e n t e r w h o ’ s p u t t i n g up 9.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and you can see why Lowery has confi-dence in his team.
“We’ve all really clicked,” he said. “We have great
ThE BiGGEST ThiNG wE TALk
ABOuT iS CONTiNuiNG TO
PrACTiCE AND NOT GET
COMPLACENT.
EvEry POSSESSiON COuNTS.
– COACH MYRON LOWeRY
First year Butler coach Myron Lowery has the bulldogs sitting at the top of the Southwestern 4A conference. MMHW file photo
Butler basketball eyes conference title
Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Page 25www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
”
sports shortsSports
Butler, Rocky River compete at Eastern High School Challenge
Butler and Rocky River’s indoor track teams competed at the Eastern High School Challenge on Jan. 31 at the Eddie Smith Field House in Chapel Hill.
Butler’s Matthew Barrera finished in second place in the 1000-meter dash, running in 2 minutes, 39.13 seconds. Teammate Chuka Sorronadi finished third in the 300 (35.56) and fifth in the 55-meter hurdles (6.47). On the girls team, Butler’s Nia Baker finished sev-enth in the shot put (35-10.00).
Rocky River’s Jazzmone Boyd placed fifth in the 1000, finishing in 3:09.63. Kenya Livingston finished in ninth place in the high jump (4-10.00) and the girls 4x400 relay team finished in third (4:07.40).
South Meck, Porter Ridge win conference wrestling tournaments
South Meck senior Collin Stewart won the So. Meck 8 120-pound cham-pionship at the conference tournament
on Jan. 31 held at South Meck High School. Stewart pinned Providence’s Ryan Keefe in 1 minute, 23 seconds to help the Sabres win the team title.
Other South Meck winners included Carlos Medina-Lesmes in the 106-pound division, Chris Moungle in the 145-pound division, Blake Barber at 152 pounds and Jacob Norby at 170 pounds.
Providence finished in second place. Ardrey Kell took third and Charlotte Catholic finished fourth.
In Southwestern 4A competition, Porter Ridge won the team title with Independence coming in second place and Butler finishing in third.
The Patriot team earned wins from Stuart Cochran (195 pound), Chris Jordan (145 pound), Russell Brown (heavyweight) and Tayshon Risher (182 pound).
Champions from Butler included Hayden Brown (220 pound), Jacob Gal-limore (106 pound), Jared Onque (126 pound) and Adam Pelter (132 pound).
Myers Park dominates Southwestern 4A swim meet, Butler finishes second
The Mustang swim team had no prob-lem taking the Southwestern 4A swim
meet by storm on Jan. 30 at the Meck-lenburg County Aquatic Center. The boys and girls team combined to take 20 individual events, winning 11 of 12 events in boys’ competition and nine of 12 in the girls’ meet.
The boys team won the meet with 752 points while Butler finished in second with 435 points. The Myers Park girls finished with 771 points and Butler girls finished with 436 points.
Butler’s Austin Spaeth was the sole individual winner for the Bulldogs, tak-ing the title in the 100-yard freestyle.
The N.C. High School Athletic Asso-ciation Class 4A Western Regional meet will be Saturday, Feb. 7, at Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center.
Charlotte Christian baseball coach honored
Charlotte Christian baseball associ-ate head coach Mike Rozak was named the N.C. Baseball Coaches Association (NCBCA) 2015 Private School Assis-tant Coach of the Year at the NCBCA’s Annual Convention on Jan. 16 and 17.
Rozsak is entering his 20th season as an assistant and eighth year as the associate head coach to Greg Simmons. Rozsak has helped Simmons lead the Knights to 12 N.C. Independent School Athletic Association state champion-ships and 16 CISAA.
Charlotte Christian’s baseball com-plex was named the 2015 Private School Field of the Year.
BOyS BASkETBALL PLAyEr OF ThE wEEk:
DEMETry LAkE, QuEEN’S GrANT
Lake, a 6-foot-5 senior guard, scored 21 points in the Stallions’ win over Gray Stone Day on Jan. 30. Lake added 10 rebounds and was 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the win.
GirLS BASkETBALL PLAyEr OF ThE wEEk:
SArAh BiLLiArD COvENANT DAy
The 6-foot sophomore scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in Covenant Day’s five-point loss to Charlotte Christian on Jan. 30.
64 Leave no room for misinterpretation … or what the first words of the answers to the five italicized clues do, literally
66 Putin’s refusal67 German
automaker68 Vikings, e.g.69 Letters between
jays and ells70 Wall Street inits.71 ___ Park, Colo.
DOWN 1 Change, as the
Constitution 2 Final approval 3 October 31
option 4 Needing no Rx 5 1970 John
Wayne film 6 Glam rock band
___ the Hoople 7 Put into law 8 Small recess 9 Loosens, as
laces10 Thwarts11 Not joint-
pounding, as aerobics
12 Title for Sam or Ben
13 Enjoys Joyce, Carroll or Oates
18 U.S.S. ___ (aircraft carrier named for a former admiral)
24 Pace or race follower
26 Howe’er28 Unnamed others
30 Like integers of the form 2n + 1
31 Shade32 “One Love”
singer33 Suffix with ranch34 Sauce thickener36 Doublemint, for
one37 Juillet’s season40 Worldwide
43 Lottery buys
44 Univ., e.g.
46 Writer’s plan
47 Jeanne d’Arc, for one: Abbr.
49 Muppet maker Jim
51 “Use your head!”
52 Course for which you hardly need to 51-Down
53 Maudlin
54 Forest units
56 Call off, as a mission
57 One just squeaking by?
58 Fills up
61 Fr. girl
65 Lean-___ (rude shelters)
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H E S B A C K M A L T H U SE T E R N A L A M O R O S OM A R I A N O P I N A T A SP I T C H E S L E G I TS L A K E S H E B L O K E
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For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550For Release Monday, February 2, 2015
Edited by Will Shortz No.1229Crossword
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Garage Sale: Dining Chairs, Glass Dining Table, Parsons Chairs, Black Marble Top Breakfast Table, Many rolls of quality yarn! Waffle Iron, Bamboo Placemats, kitchen utensils, Bicycle, clothing, shoes, purses and more! 3213 Williams Road, Matthews (Julian Meadows subdivision). Saturday Feb. 14th and Sunday Feb. 15th. 8am – 3pm. 021315
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.NET Developer (Charlotte, NC): Work closely w/ data dvlpmt team members & internal customers to dvlp business system reqmts; test prgms or d/bases, correct errors & make necessary modifications; dsgn, update, test, & monitor the creation & dvlpmt of web applications; maintain the corporate website; modify existing d/bases & d/base mgmt systems; dvlp site admin application used for library maintenance; dvlp user interactive features for corporate website & dvlp various web forms; & maintain tech’l awareness in appropriate internet technologies. Reqs a Master’s Deg in Comp Applications + 2 yrs exp as .Net Dvlper. Email resume to beth.simonetti@baker-
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Join our dedicated team! Matthews Help Center seeks Receiving Assistant for Back Porch Treasures Thrift Boutique. 27 hours/week @$8.50/hour. Two Saturdays/month required.Job Responsibilities:--Greet and assist all patrons dropping off donations --Organize and maintain donation and storage areas throughout the day --Assist managers with stocking retail floor and other tasks as assigned This position requires ability to lift and carry50 lbs, valid NC driver\’s license, light handyman skills, and a sunny disposition no matter the weather!Applications are available at Matthews Help Center, 119 N. Ames Street, Matthews or online at www.matthewshelpcenter.org. Completed applications and resumes (optional) can be returned in person or emailed to BPTcareers@matthews helpcenter.org. Selected candidates will be called for an interview beginning February 16, 2015. 021315
Part Time cleaning position, experience not necessary, training will be given, needs own vehicle & background will be checked. 704- 843-4877 ask for Ricky/ D’Lise Cleaning Services, LLC. 013015ATTN: Drivers-$2K Sign-on Bonus Love your $55K Job! $2K Sign-on Bonus + Benefits Ave $1100 Weekly CDL-A Req 1-888-592-4752. www.ad-drivers,com. SAPA
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European Cleaning Woman – 16 years experience. Looking for a job. Clean house, apartment or office. References available. My name is Martina. Call 704- 628-5504 or 516- 554-3960. 041715
HOUSE CLEANING Your Home Will be Thoroughly Cleaned! Weekly or Bi-Weekly. Experienced and Dependable. References and Free Estimates. Affordable Rates. Call Lelia at (980) 875-9606. 020615
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HOME FOR RENT 3 bed/2 bath + bonus room home 2 car garage (2000 square feet) MATTHEWS location.Cul du sac. Fenced yard. 1 pet SS
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ACROSS 1 Espresso and
cappuccino 8 2014 World
Series winners14 Become rusted15 Largest country
in Africa since the breakup of Sudan in 2011
17 Illuminated from behind
18 Bright, as a fire19 Tonsil doc20 One helping an
addict22 Spell-off23 Snicker24 ___ flash25 Like Santa’s
helpers28 Coarse, as
humor31 New York Stock
Exchange symbol
32 Pale33 Mad ___37 Buddy38 Wayward
offspring, informally
40 Day-___41 Kebab stick43 General on
Chinese menus44 “Sands of Iwo
___”45 Fanatic47 Attempt, as a
field goal48 Org. in the
“Dirty Harry” movies
51 Fend off, as mosquitoes
53 “We Three Kings of Orient ___”
54 Vexes56 Snatch59 Take back, as a
false charge61 Milan opera
house63 Rapper with the
1991 hit “Rico Suave”
64 Greek personification of the outer sea
65 Commandeer66 Clichéd gift on
Mother’s Day
DOWN 1 Center 2 Plural animal
name that does not end in “-s”
3 Italian carmaker
4 Fireside chat prez
5 Brennan of “Private Benjamin”
6 Online publication
7 Advance, as a clock
8 Ibsen’s “Hedda ___”
9 “Winnie ___ Pu”
10 Lab culture medium
11 Pince-___ (glasses that clip to the nose)
12 Cree, Creek or Crow
13 Muscle16 The 13 of
PG-13 and 17 of NC-17
21 Storied locale for the circled letters in 8- and 65-Across
23 Dusk-dawn connector
24 WaPo competitor
25 Declines26 Lie in wait27 Ice mass29 “The Cosby
Show” son30 Duped32 Give a heads-
up34 Weekly
“Whew!”35 Ticklish red
Muppet
36 Engine sound at Indy
38 Actress Arthur39 Bake in a sauce42 One justification
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Edited by Will Shortz No. 1223Crossword
Real estate–FoR sale
GaRaGe sale
Vehicles FoR sale
Financial
Miscellaneous
help wanted
seRVices
pets
FoR sale
Real estate–Rental
business oppoRtunities
MeRchandise
Page 28 • Feb. 5 to 11, 2015 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weekly www.matthewsminthillweekly.com
